In 1950, Pope Pius
XII defined Mary's Assumption into heaven as a dogma of Roman Catholicism: "the
Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of
her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven." The proclamation of
this dogma was made in the encyclical: Munificentissimus Deus. After
entering heaven, Mary has remained active in the life of the
Church.
Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
Solemnity ~ August 15
"Today, she who "belongs to
Christ" by a unique, abiding, and unrepeatable privilege, the most holy
Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, follows where He has gone, "through the greater
and more perfect tent not made by human hands, that is, not of this creation . .
. into the Holy Place" (Heb 9:11).
Today the sacred and living ark of the living God, who conceived her Creator
Himself, takes up her abode in the temple of God." ~ St
John Damascene
Assumpta est Maria in caelum, gaudent angeli, laudantes
benedicunt Dominum!
Mary has been taken up into
heaven;
the angels rejoice and, praising,
bless the Lord!
Juan Martin
Cabezalero
"Above all, let us listen to Mary Most Holy, in whom the mystery of the Eucharist appears, more than in anyone else, as a mystery of light. Gazing upon Mary, we come to know the transforming power present in the Eucharist.
In her we see the
world renewed in love.
Contemplating her, assumed body and
soul into heaven, we see opening up before us those
'new heavens' and that 'new earth' which will appear at the second coming of Christ. Here below,
the Eucharist represents their pledge, and in a certain way,
theiranticipation: 'Veni, Domine
Iesu!'’” (Rev
22:20).
St John Paul II, Ecclesia de
Eucharistia, 62
"And
now death came; not indeed clothed in mourning and grief, as it does to others,
but adorned
with light and gladness. But
what do we say? Why speak of death? Let us rather say that divine love came, and
cut the thread of that noble life. And as a light, before going out, gives a
last and brighter flash than ever, so did this beautiful creature, on hearing
her Son's invitation to follow him, wrapped in the flames of love, and in the
midst of her loving sighs, give a last sigh of still more ardent love, and
breathing forth her soul, expired. Thus was that great soul, that beautiful dove
of the Lord, loosened from the bands of this life; thus did she enter into the
glory of the blessed, where she is now seated, and will be seated, Queen of
Paradise, for all eternity." - St Alphonsus de
Liguori
"The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the oldest Marian Feast, returns every year in the heart of summer. It is
an opportunity to rise with Mary to the heights of the spirit where one breathes
the pure air of supernatural life and contemplates the most authentic beauty,
the beauty of holiness. The atmosphere of today’s celebration is steeped in
paschal joy. “Today”, the antiphon of the Magnificat
says, “the Virgin Mary was taken up
to Heaven. Rejoice, for she reigns with Christ for ever. Alleluia”. This proclamation speaks to us of an
event that is utterly unique and extraordinary, yet destined to fill the heart
of every human being with hope and happiness.
Mary is indeed the first
fruit of the new humanity, the
creature in whom the mystery of Christ – his Incarnation, death, Resurrection
and Ascension into Heaven – has already fully taken effect, redeeming her from
death and conveying her, body and soul, to the Kingdom of immortal life.
For this reason, as the
Second Vatican Council recalls, the Virgin Mary is a
sign of certain hope and comfort to us (cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 68). Today's feast impels us to lift our
gaze to Heaven; not to a heaven consisting of abstract ideas or even an
imaginary heaven created by art, but the Heaven of true reality which is God
Himself. God is Heaven. He is our destination, the destination and the eternal
dwelling place from which we come and for which we are
striving."
- Pope Benedict XVI - August 15,
2008 (Homily)
A 54-day national
rosary novena begins
August 15 – Feast
of the Assumption.
Primary Intention: “For Family and
Marriage"
• Peace, Sanctity of Human
Life & Religious
Freedom
Why: A Message of Hope in response to the
spiritual crisis in our culture and nation and to the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops call to
prayer.
What: Pray
the rosary for 54 days for the Novena
Intentions
- 27 days in petition from August 15 thru September 10, 2015
- 27
days in thanksgiving from September 11 thru October 7,
2015
Where: At home, individually or with
families, or in a parish community or other
groups
