Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by El Greco, 1577

Today, dear friends, is a holy day of obligation, a day on which we do not have to go to Mass (who is going to make you?), but on which we get to go! What a glorious feast to celebrate such a magnificent event! Heck, since it is a solemnity, which is to be observed as a Sunday, which means no fasting or abstinence, have a cheeseburger for lunch!

The painting (which I swapped for the one I had originally posted by Murillo) is one of my favorite works of art. While in diaconal formation we had to pick an image of the Blessed Virgin and write a reflection on it. This was easy for me as I love this painting because it increases my affection for our Blessed Mother.

Ave, María grátia plena,
Dóminus tecum; benedícta tu in muliéribus,
et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Deacon Greg Kandra has posted his homily for this great solemnity. His preaching focuses on the aspect of the Gospel that shows how Mary, during her lifetime, was on a journey and so are we. He makes a wonderful link with how so many Marian shrines are pilgrimage destinations. It is well worth your time. It is a good reflection on how Mary is an exemplar of being toward destiny.

Suzanne posts a remarkable video of Pope John Paul II, recorded during his Apostolic Visit to the U.S. in the '80s. It is appropriate to be reminded on this solemnity by him whose episcopal motto referred to his total consecration to our Blessed Mother, Totus Tuus, totally yours, to "follow Christ". This is also Mary's perennial message in all her various apparitions. So, Suzanne's video will count for our traditio because it corresponds to my heart.

On two lighter notes, it is heartening, as the Ironic Catholic reports on this solemnity of the Assumption, that "Shoe Rosaries" Win Intense Homeschooler Summer Craft Competition. Finally, Fred, author of Deep Furrows, gives a short history of the Vatican Space program in 1950: a grace odyssey.

P.S.
Re: Integrity Notes- I have never been accused of any legal or ethical lapses. I just want to write with credibility, which means doing it with integrity. So, these notes represent some thinking that I have been doing over the past two months.