The feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven takes place on Aug. 15, a Monday this year, and so this year it is not a Holy Day of Obligation.

 

That, of course, does not diminish its importance.

 

The readings for the day start with the Book of Revelation about “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” They continue with the second reading from 1 Corinthians about “Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man.”

 

And the Gospel comes from Luke, describing Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, describing how, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’”

 

All of these point to our Blessed Mother as favored and honored for her role in God’s plan of salvation for humanity.

 

The understanding that God favored Mary by assuming her, body and soul, into heaven began to be celebrated as early as the fifth century in the East and in Rome, according to this year’s Ordo/Order of Prayer for our diocese. The Latin word leading to the word “assumption” means “taking up.” 

 

Pope Pius XII defined it in 1950 in Munificentissimus Deus, proclaiming it to be a “dogma revealed by God that the Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.” 

 

Note that it doesn’t answer the question of whether or not Mary died or if she was raised to eternal life without a bodily death. That question has not been infallibly defined by any pope.

 

We might think of it as Mary’s heavenly birthday, and celebrate her on this day at daily Masses, or with 

a rosary, a song or simple prayer of gratitude for this uniquely blessed member of the human race.