This Monday, August 15th, we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary. It is not a holy day of obligation this year in the United States, but it still provides us with an opportunity to honor the Virgin Mary. Mary is the mother of Jesus, the mother of our Church, and our mother. She is a model of faithful discipleship.
Our Catechism states that “…the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.”
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to attend Mass, visit a Marian shrine or pray before a statue of Mary, or acknowledge her in some special way on the feast of the Assumption. Commenting on this feast, as reported by the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, Pope Francis focused on the humility of Mary. He stated, “Mary’s secret is humility. It is beautiful to think that the humblest and loftiest creature in history, the first to win heaven with her entire being, in soul and body, lived out her life for the most part within the domestic walls, she lived out her life in the ordinary, in humility.”
The following “Prayer for the Assumption of Mary” from “Catholic Online” encourages us to follow the example of Mary:
Father in Heaven, all creation rightly gives You praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you. In the plan of Your wisdom,
she who bore the Christ in her womb was raised body and soul in glory to be with Him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting Your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that we will have Masses at convenient times on Monday. Please check the Church bulletin or website for details.
Encouraged by the Assumption of Mary, we are challenged by Our Holy Father to keep our focus on humbly loving and serving Jesus as we continue on our journey of faith.
Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, intercede for us.
Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us.
These special Mass celebrations are at 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 12:00 Noon in the Sanctuary.