My dear parishioners, Peace! The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the “prayer of the rosary” as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours in the Western Church (§ 2678). In praying the rosary we “meditate on the mysteries of Christ” engaging our “thought, imagination, emotion, and desire” leading not only to “knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus” but “union with Him” (§ 2708). In fact the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an “epitome of the whole Gospel” and is also an expression of “devotion to the Virgin Mary” (§ 971). Here we consider the Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
While Pope Pius XII crystalized the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a part of Sacred Tradition in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus (1 November, 1950) he cites various ancient sources for his teaching. Among others, Our Lady’s Assumption was not unknown or new to Saint John Damascene (+749) who wrote and preached about it. The Sacred Liturgy of the Church observes the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary each year on 15 August. While the Blessed Virgin is said to have stayed with Saint John in Ephesus for some time, Jerusalem has both Dormition Abbey and Mary’s empty tomb. Besides “Assumption” this feast has been known by five other names as well: Pausatio, Nativitas, Mors, Depositio, Dormitio S. Mariae. These all refer to different aspects of the mystery, a pause in Mary’s earthly presence, her birth into heavenly life, her earthly death, the putting away of her body to Heaven and her falling asleep.
Sacred Scripture does not use the word “Assumption” but does remind us that Mary is the “Ark of the Covenant” in the heavenly temple and “…great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the Sun, standing on the Moon…” (Revelation 11:19a; 12:1a; Mass During the Day). Genesis 3:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:54 (Vigil Mass) have been cited as referring to this mystery in that Mary’s Assumption, body and soul to Heaven completes the “enmity” between the Devil and “the Woman” who is Our Lady, and “death is swallowed up in victory.”
The fruit of the mystery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the grace of a happy death. This does not mean just some sloppy grin. At the end of her earthly life (as she was throughout her earthly life) the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from sin, ready to see God face to face forever. The Lord Jesus brought His mother to Himself. Thanks to the graces we receive in Holy Baptism and the Sacrament of Penance we too can be free from sin and have a graced, blessed and happy death, ready to see the Lord for all eternity in Heaven. The Assumption of the Lord prepares for Our Lady’s Assumption. Mary’s Assumption prepares the way for us. Mary, in Heaven, intercedes for us with her Son and Savior.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr