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I attended Mass this weekday morning, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, celebrated annually on August 15. What a beautiful Mass it was, with a nearly full church, music, a procession and a wonderful homily by our church’s pastor.
Our pastor spoke of Mary’s life of suffering and service. He described Our Lady as the most important of all humans in the history of mankind. (Jesus was both human and divine.)
Scripture doesn’t include much about Mary after Christ’s death other than her role in guiding and comforting the apostles in the upper room as they began their work to form the early Church after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Her Assumption, however, is embedded in Revelations 12, in which John describes his vision of Mary as “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” It has been interpreted varying ways and it’s a lot to try to understand.
The Assumption is one of four Marian dogmas of the Church. As Catholic News Agency states: “The Assumption had been a part of the Church’s spiritual and doctrinal patrimony for centuries.” And while the event isn’t found in scripture, it was “divinely revealed” in the Gospel of John.
It is said to have occurred in either Ephesus, her home while under John’s care, as commanded by Jesus before he died on the cross. Another belief is that she lived in Jerusalem and that is where she died.
Whether she died or she was taken to Heaven without enduring death, one thing is certain. Her reunion with her son Jesus was a joyous occasion.
As Jem Sullivan PhD and author of “The Beauty of Faith” says in this video posted on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, through her Assumption “…Mary shares in her son’s resurrection and victory over sin and death. And she shows us the path of resurrected life in Jesus.”
I am hoping to bring more knowledge about the Virgin Mary to the world, especially during these times when we need her most. Please consider sharing this post, this site, or its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. I invite you to subscribe to this site (below) to be notified of new posts. Thank you.
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