Word to the Wise
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - Aug. 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Day
[Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a; 10ab; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56]"My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name." [Luke]
Much of our Catholic tradition concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary is summed up in the first few lines of her "canticle," which she proclaimed after being greeted by her cousin Elizabeth. Reflection on Mary's role in God's plan of salvation, at least in written form, began to appear in the 3rd and 4th centuries, but the feast day finally appeared in the 9th century. In any case, Mary, through the evangelist Luke, provided the foundation in her consent to become the mother of Jesus. The angel, Gabriel, made it clear, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." [Luke 1:28] And we continue to acknowledge this truth in the millions of times we repeat it in the traditional prayer, "Hail! Mary!"
One of truths of our Marian tradition is her "assumption" which proclaims that on her death she was not subject to any judgment but immediately experienced the resurrection of the dead and joined her Son in heaven. This truth was proclaimed as part of Catholic faith in a dogmatic fashion by Pope Pius XII in 1950 after a worldwide consultation.
In celebrating this feast, we not only acknowledge Mary's status in God's plan, but we celebrate our own hope of resurrection. Where she has gone, we hope to follow. Her hymn of praise, "the Magnificat," can become ours as well. AMEN