Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - Aug. 15 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mass during the Day
[Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56]From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.
The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a reminder to us of the great devotion to her that has remained a part of Catholic faith for centuries. In particular, on this feast day, we are reminded of the great privilege she enjoyed of being immediately received by God into eternal happiness upon her death. There were none of the consequences of being subjected to a final judgment. Since she is in the relationship with God now that we hope to enjoy, she represents a great hope. Because this was so widely believed by the church, Pope Pius XII proclaimed it a truth to be accepted by all Catholics. There is a considerable element of "mystery" here because the Assumption is not attested to directly by scripture. This is where tradition and faith intersect in a way that we do not always understand. The great Southern writer, Flannery O'Connor, a devout Catholic, once wrote that "Dogma is the guardian of mystery." The dogma of the Assumption keeps the figure of Mary in a central place in Catholic faith. The Almighty has done great things for her!
At the same time, it might be helpful to remember that Mary was a Jewish woman of first century Palestine. She was a mother and possibly a sister or aunt or friend to other women in the village. She was cousin to Elizabeth, to whom she addressed the words of the canticle we call the Magnificat in today's gospel scripture. If we surround her with too much "glory" we can lose sight of a great human comfort - the comfort of a mother, sister, and friend. In celebrating the Assumption, we can celebrate our human solidarity with her and liive so as to join her in eternal life. AMEN
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