Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a significant feast day in the liturgical year and a big deal for us theologically and personally. The Solemnity is not a holy day of obligation this year, but let’s each consider taking extra time today either to attend Mass or for a specific spiritual discipline or devotional practice. I’d like to focus on our Blessed Mother in this reflection and hopefully inspire a deeper hope in the resurrection in each of our hearts and a surer confidence in our Mother’s prayers.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us (paragraph 974), “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (see also CCC 966). Mary was taken up into heaven body and soul, which means her body did not suffer decay. This teaching makes sense, because by her Immaculate Conception Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin and hence would not suffer the bodily corruption tied to that sin. As mother of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, Mary was exalted by the Lord to be the Queen of heaven and earth. Her assumption gives hope to every believer because she is the forerunner, if you will, of each one of us. God promises the resurrection of the body to all faithful members of his Body, the Church, and Mary fulfills and foreshadows this promise as she participates in Christ’s resurrection.
Jesus is the reigning King of heaven and earth. Because Mary is fully conformed to her Son (in perfect obedience, union in his suffering, and victory over death), she shares in his universal kingship as the Queen Mother. The Church beautifully recognizes Christ as the “New Adam,” and Mary as the “New Eve.” Just as the original Eve was created to rule over all creation with Adam, so Mary shares in her Son’s rule over creation. Such a queenship is not exercised by might and authority, but rather with maternal compassion and love. Mary serves as an Advocate for all of us and for all humanity, interceding constantly for the spiritual and physical needs of all people. The queenship of our Blessed Mother can be deeply personal for each one of us, or stated another way, because of Mary’s queenship, a deep and personal relationship with her becomes possible.
Jesus ascended into heaven by his own divine power and authority. The Ascension is significant because by it, Christ’s humanity entered God’s heavenly domain where he sits at the Father’s right hand. Because Christ took our humanity into glory, we too can share in his divinity. Mary was a human being who was saved by grace and taken up into glory by the power of God, not by any power of her own. Her Assumption became the “first fruits” of the final resurrection that all the faithful will experience when Christ returns.
I share all of that because I suspect each of us has questions about this Solemnity and its meaning. I find profound significance in the fact that both Christ’s Ascension and Mary’s Assumption give us tremendous hope for our own eventual resurrection, both body and soul. As one of the Collect prayers for the Feast of the Ascension says in part, “where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope.” We can be assured that God’s promises are true – if we remain faithful to Christ to the end, we will be saved and will follow our Head into glory. The fact that our Mother has gone before us as the forerunner gives us tremendous hope, as well. Where she is, we hope to be one day – this we cling to with trust and confidence in God’s merciful love.
Finally, this Solemnity is significant because our Lord’s Mother is our Mother. We can count on Mary fully to be compassionate, tender, and attentive to us. She lives to intercede for us and to lead souls to her Son and to lead souls deeper into his Sacred Heart. Today, let us call upon our Mother and ask her to pray for us that we might grow closer day by day to her Son and be conformed to him. Let us call upon her in any moment of need – in those times when we “just need our Mom.” Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” Amen!
In the Body and Blood of Christ,
Elizabeth Wells