Solemnity
of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Revelation
11:19a.12:1-6a.10ab; I Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56)
The Church
always celebrates her saints on the day they died. Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, is
no exception unless one holds, with many, that Mary never died! (According to a minority of authorities she
went to sleep and awoke in Paradise.) No
reason for the August 15 date is given for the “Dormition” or “Assumption” of
Mary is given. However, the Church of
Jerusalem yearly celebrated the Commemoration of the Mother of God on this date
in the middle of the fifth century.
Scripture
does not reference Mary’s transition from earth to heaven, but apologists find
reasons to accept the event as reasonable.
There never have been relics of the Blessed Mother, nor is there record of
a grave or tomb where early Christians venerated her. Given testimony in Scripture of Mary’s
presence not only at Jesus’ birth but also during his ministry, at his death,
and even among his disciples after his resurrection, both absences indicate
that something unique happened at the end of her life.
Mary’s
Assumption into heaven does more than complete for us the story of arguably Jesus’
closest associate. It supports our hope
of experiencing the resurrection of our bodies. With such hope it gives us added
reason not to abuse our bodies by laziness or gluttony. It also confirms our reliance on Mary as an
intercessor and our choice of her as a model in life.
No comments:
Post a Comment