Fr. Joseph’s Weekly Missive for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

August 13, 2021

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.” (Revelation 11:19)

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a dogma of the Church that the Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 966). Pope Pius XII defined this dogma in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus, pointing to Genesis 3:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:54 as scriptural supports.

Pope Pius XII gives 4 reasons for the dogma of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: (1) The uninterrupted tradition about Mary’s dormition and assumption starting from the first century. (2) The belief expressed in all the ancient liturgies of the Church. (3) The negative evidence of the absence and veneration of a tomb of Mary while most of the apostles have their tombs. (4) The possibility of bodily assumption warranted in the Old Testament in the cases of Enoch (Genesis 5:24), perhaps Moses (Deuteronomy 34:5), and especially Elijah (II Kings 2:1-5).

There are also theological reasons: (a) The degeneration of the body after death is the consequence of “original sin,” and Mary, as “immaculately conceived,” is exempted from the post-mortem decay of the body. (b) As receiver of the fullness of grace and holiness, as mother of Jesus, Mary’s place is with her son Jesus, the redeemer, in the abode of holiness, heaven.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. On this feast day of our heavenly Mother, let us offer ourselves on the altar and pray for her special care and loving protection in helping us lead a purer and holier life and be transformed by God’s grace in order to live, glorify and proclaim God’s wonderful love with everyone we meet.

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.