Word to the Wise
Monday, August 15, 2016 - 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." [Luke]
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2016 THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
[Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; 1 Corinthians15:20-27; 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." [Luke]
In 1988 I had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land in company with my dad and a group from the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. One of our stops on the pilgrimage was in Nazareth at the huge basilica built over the place traditionally considered the home of the Holy Family. On the walls of the enclosed courtyard and inside the basilica were the contributed images of Mary from nations around the world! There are an awful lot of Our Lady's of this or that place or virtue or whatever, depending on the country or group that donated the image. Many of the titles may be found in the traditional litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Given the humble dwelling and circumstances of the dwelling that is featured in a special "well" in the center of the basilica, one might wonder what that young Jewish girl from this still small town would think of it all! (To that end, I recommend reading OUR LADY OF THE LOST AND FOUND by Diane Schoemperlen.)
Yet, Mary's words as recounted by the evangelist Luke really say it all: "From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name." Today we celebrate what Catholic tradition and dogma proclaim: Mary went straight to heaven at her death. There was no need of judgment. How this was done or even when she died is a mystery, but the truth of it is consistent with her status as the mother of Jesus Christ - the Mother of God. We hope to be with her someday, but our own path may be a bit less direct! In the meantime, we share with her in the Communion of Saints and the continuation of Christ's mission on earth, the Church. She has shown us the path to greatness. AMEN
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