THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

Day 97: August 15



The Solemnity of the Assumption honors the fact that when the Blessed Virgin Mary completed her life on earth, she was taken body and soul into Heaven to be with her resurrected Son so as to adore the Most Holy Trinity forever. It’s an amazing fact to consider that she retains her body and soul, united as one in Heaven, in anticipation of that glorious day when the new Heavens and Earth will be created and when all the faithful will rise so as to live in a new bodily form forever with God.

Though this dogma of our faith had been held and believed by the faithful from the earliest times of our Church, especially since it was witnessed by those closest to our Blessed Mother at the time of her glorious Assumption, it wasn’t until November 1, 1950, that Pope Pius XII solemnly proclaimed it to be so, raising this teaching of our faith to the level of a dogma, meaning, it must be held and believed by all. In part, the Holy Father declared, “…we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

We reflect today with the whole Church, upon the Most Glorious Ever-Virgin Mary who was conceived without sin, remained sinless throughout her life, and was taken body and soul into Heaven where she now adores the Most Holy Trinity and intercedes for you and for the whole Church. This is a Solemnity of great rejoicing! Share in this joy with the whole Church and with all the saints in Heaven!


CONSECRATION TO THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

O Blessed Virgin Mary, we believe that because of your Immaculate Conception you were not subject to death; but to be perfectly like your Son, who dies to obtain for us eternal life, you too wanted to pass through the door of death.

We believe that Jesus died because of His infinite love for us and for the glory of the Father; your transition was the effect of your immense desire to see God and become our universal mother! Obtain that our death may be like yours, O Blessed Mother!

O Blessed Virgin Mother of God and our Mother! We believe that the Almighty wanted toy glorify you with the greatest likeness to the Risen Jesus, and thus He raised you from death. For the glory and beatitude of your resurrection, we beg you, obtain for our bodies a glorious resurrection.

Lift us, O Virgin Mother of God, to the faith-vision of the glory of the resurrection in Jesus and in you. Grant us that we may love the practice of all virtues and gifts, fruits and beatitudes that on earth fill us with grace, and in heaven will adorn us with glory!

O Blessed Virgin Mother of God, we believe that in order to glorify you with the greatest likeness to Jesus of the ascension, the Almighty has taken you up to heaven, with your risen body. For the glory and beatitude of your triumphant ascension, we beg you guide us to the spiritual growth required by our grace and talents.

We rejoice with the angels and St joseph, with the heavenly court and with Our Lord Jesus Christ for your presence in heaven in body and soul. Obtain that we may never suffer Jesus' absence and yours.

O Blessed Virgin Mother of God, we believe that the Almighty wanting to glorify you with the greatest likeness to Jesus Christ, King of the universe, who sist at the right hand of the Father, has crowned you Queen of all angels and saints, of heaven and earth, Mediatrix and dispenser of all graces of salvation and sanctification.

O Mary, O Mary! Grant that we may always enjoy the benefits of the Queenship of your motherly heart, of your sovereign protection and generosity. Obtain that we may imitate Jesus and you, that we may be united to Jesus and to you through your grace on earth in order to remain for all eternity united to you and to Jesus in glory.

(St Justin Russolillo, Devotional, Napoli, Vocationist Fathers Editions, 2009, pp. 341-343)

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