Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Assumption of the BVM 2018, Wednesday, 15-08-18


Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6. 10 / 1 Cor 15:20-26 / Luke 1:39-56

Last Monday, the 13th August, we had our usual monthly Rosary at Mary’s shrine.



The turnout was more than usual because the Inquirers from the RCIA journey were invited to see for themselves what the monthly Rosary is all about.



They had begun the journey in early July so it is only slightly more than a month that they had been coming to the Church, and they are still not that familiar with the practices of the Catholic Church.



So for some of them, if not all of them, the Rosary at Mary’s shrine was probably their first encounter of such a practice.



They would have their queries, like, “Why are Catholics praying to a statue? Is it a deity?”or “Who is this Mary? Is she the Mother goddess or what?”



Of course all their queries were addressed or will be addressed along the way. But it would be difficult to explain the feast of the Assumption to them.



It is the teaching of the Catholic Church that Mary’s body was assumed into heaven. But it was only in 1950, 15th August, that Pope Pius XII officially declared Mary’s Assumption as an article of faith.



In other words, the Church has boldly declared that Mary is in heaven, body and soul, a declaration that is definite and irreversible. It was a declaration not just on the authority of the Church but also under the authority of the Holy Spirit.



With this declaration, our faith in the saving power of God is reinforced. Mary is the first to be saved by the saving work of Jesus, and the first to enter heaven body and soul, hence assuring us that we too will join her one day, and that would be at the resurrection on the Last Day.



At the same time, our faith in Mary’s intercession is also reinforced, because from heaven she continues to pray for us as our Heavenly Mother, a mission that she received at the foot of the cross and that she continues even in heaven.



Mary is not a goddess or a deity. She needs to be saved by Jesus and in her Assumption, God is showing us that Mary has received the fullness of salvation.


And let us also pray with her for the salvation of all peoples. That’s what the Assumption means for us.