Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Mateo Cerezo

By ancient and venerable tradition Christians both East and West today observe the great solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.I could not consider myself a respectable Catholic blogger if I let this day, which I spent with my family swimming and then at the Utah Olympic Park, slip by without posting something. Additionally, it would be a personal expression of ingratitude to my Mother, who has been so good to me. I already feel bad enough not posting anything yesterday on St. Maximilian Kolbe's memorial.

For us Roman Catholics, it is fitting to remember that on 1 November 1950, Bl. Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Blessed Virgin's bodily assumption into heaven as a dogma of the faith. His proclamation was the first and, to date, only infallible dogmatic proclamation made by a Supreme Pontiff since the formal definition of papal infallibility was made during the First Vatican Council in 1870.

The proclamation was made via the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissmus Deus.

And so we may hope that those who meditate upon the glorious example Mary offers us may be more and more convinced of the value of a human life entirely devoted to carrying out the heavenly Father's will and to bringing good to others. Thus, while the illusory teachings of materialism and the corruption of morals that follows from these teachings threaten to extinguish the light of virtue and to ruin the lives of men by exciting discord among them, in this magnificent way all may see clearly to what a lofty goal our bodies and souls are destined. Finally it is our hope that belief in Mary's bodily Assumption into heaven will make our belief in our own resurrection stronger and render it more effective (par. 42)

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death