Gospel: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. It is one of the three feasts of Mary that is holy days of obligation according to Canon Law (unless suppressed by the Regional Conference of Catholic Bishops. The other two are January 1, which is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and December 8, which is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The Gospel reading will be lifted from the account of St Luke (click here for the Mass readings from USCCB).

The assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven has long been held as an important Catholic belief. The belief was not defined as dogma, however, until 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The dogma teaches that Mary, who was without sin, was taken, body and soul, into the glory of heaven.

The Gospel for this holy day recalls Mary's actions after the announcement of Jesus' birth by the Angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit her cousin St Elizabeth who is also pregnant with St John the Baptist. St Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles they and their unborn children will play in God's plan for salvation. Mary responds to St Elizabeth's greeting with a song of praise, the Magnificat. Both wonen recall and echo God's history of showing favor upon the people of Israel. Mary's Maginificat, in particular, echoes the song of praise offered by Hannah, the mother of Samuel.

The Gospel for this day reminds us that Mary's Assumption into heaven is best understood with regard for the full spectrum of Catholic beliefs about the the person of Christ and the person of Mary. Only Mary, who was born without stain of original sin - the Immaculate Conception - could give birth to Christ, who is fully God and fully human. Because of Mary's role in God's plan of salvation, she does not suffer from the effects of original sin, which are death and decay. Mary is the first to receive the fullness of the redemption that her son has won for all of humanity. The Church, therefore, recognizes Mary as the sign of the salvation promised to all.

 Today's Gospel also highlights Mary's faith. This faith enabled her to recognize God's work in her people's history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed the Almighty to work through her so that salvation may come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God's plan.

Amen.

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