Assumpta est Maria in Caelum!


Torch of The Faith News on Friday 15 August 2014 - 15:02:29 | by admin

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Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the great feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation.

'Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of Original Sin, when the course of Her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that She might be the more fully conformed to Her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death' (Pope Pius XII: Munificentissimus Deus, 1950).

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the pre-eminent member of the Church. Sacred Scripture and Tradition testify to Her inseparable union with Her Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, and to His mission. The unique closeness of Her bond and union with Him was not weakened at the end of Her own earthly life. As Mother of the Redeemer, intimately associated with Him, body and soul, in His saving life and death, Mary now shares body and soul in His heavenly glory.

This is a unique privilege. All of the other saints in Heaven await the Final Judgement for the re-union of their soul with their glorified body.

The Blessed Virign Mary, the pre-eminent member of the Church, is totally united in Heaven with Jesus Christ, Her Head. She is the model, type and personification of the Church. In Her, the Church has already reached its promised perfection and goal.

These facts are enormously important and encouraging for us in the Church Militant on earth. Let us consider some practical outcomes for us:-

1. The Blessed Virgin Mary's full participation in the Resurrection of Her Son, demonstrates to us that the attainment of Heaven is, by God's grace, possible for us too. The pre-eminent member of the Church is already there, body and soul, in Heaven. We are travelling towards that final destination. There are four aspects which we can prayerfully reflect on:-

A). Our Lady, being in Heaven, shows us that this is possible. Therefore, we too can make it if we also say ''Yes'' to God through faithful unity with Christ in His Church. 

B). Our Lady is in Heaven interceding powerfully for us to make it there also. This can encourage us and help us to pray to Her with our problems and aspirations.

C). She encourages us to keep moving forward towards our heavenly goal. Canon Albert Shaw, on Merseyside, used to speak of this in terms of Our Lady looking back down a steep and rugged mountain and calling us on, whilst pointing out to us the pitfalls and dangers that we face. By praying the Rosary and practicing the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we can enter more surefootedly into the dynamic of Her guidance and support. Whatever mountain you are climbing right now is necessary for your salvation and sanctification. Even if you feel that you have fallen in a ditch by the wayside, call on Our Lady to help and guide you. In this way the climb will become fruitful and lead to the summit of Heaven.

D). Keeping our focus on Heaven, helps us to remember that this life is not all that there is. We will weigh the things of this world with a healthy understanding of the bigger picture. Focusing on the goal of Heaven can help us to avoid sin and the descent into Hell.

2. The fact that Our Blessed Lady is Assumed, body and soul, into Heaven testifies to the body and soul unity of the human person and its high dignity in Christ. There are three aspects worth reflecting on in light of this also.

A). This is why the killing of baptized Christians in Iraq - and the fact that Western leaders and media are generally turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed against them - is particularly offensive to God. 

B). We see again why the Church affirms the dignity of the human person. The goodness of the human person, created in the image of God, and redeemed through baptism and faithful sacramental life in Christ, rules out abortion, euthanasia, suicide, murder and unjust treatment of persons.

C). The goodness and dignity of the human person help us to recognise the problems with body piercing, body 'modification' and the kinds of extreme tattooing which prevail in Western nations today.

On this day we celebrate Mary's Assumption into Heaven, body and soul, and the hope this gives us for our own final peace with Her and with God in Heaven. Let us praise God for these wonders and pray the Mass with recollection and joy. It is also a custom on great Marian feasts to ask Our Lady to aid one's loved ones in Purgatory with the special graces granted on Her feasts. It is also good to enjoy some pleasant food and drink to mark the occasion too!

Assumpta est Maria in Caelum!    


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