My mother had great devotion to the Blessed Mother. She loved her and turned to her often. As a family, we prayed the rosary together every day. Mom named all three of her daughters after Mary: Mary Jule, Gerianne Marie and Anne Marie. I’m sure there are other examples that demonstrate my mother’s devotion, but just one more: During one of my summers as a college kid I painted our screen porch. For the color, Mom chose “Virgin Mary Blue.”
On Aug. 15, we honor Mary as we celebrate her assumption into heaven. It’s the day that marks Mary’s last day on Earth, and God completes what he began. Mary was conceived without sin because she would hold God himself in her womb, so we recognize that her body could not undergo corruption, even at the end of her life. The Church does not state whether Mary died, so we speak of Mary’s dormition. In that word you can see we also get the word dormitory, a place of sleep. So, Mary sort of fell asleep. In any case, we believe that Mary remained unstained.
Like so many of our beliefs and traditions, it’s always a good question to ask, “So, what does this feast day mean for me?” Mary’s assumption gives us a glimpse of what is intended for us, it’s a reminder of the promises that were made to us when we were baptized into Christ, that it’s God’s desire that we live forever. Where Mary has gone, you and I are meant to follow. Just as where Jesus has gone, Mary followed.
As with any Marian feast day, it’s ultimately about Jesus. In the second reading for that day, St. Paul tells us “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” The idea of first fruits would have made sense to Paul’s listeners; the people gave the first part of their harvest to the Lord. In a way of tithing, they gave the first 10% of their crop, or their fruits, to the Lord. By offering that up, the rest of their crop would be blessed. When we say Jesus and his rising from the dead are the first fruits, we’re saying that Jesus’ offering is such that we are all meant to follow that same path — to some day rise from the dead. It is most appropriate that Mary would be the first to enjoy that.
Not only does Mary’s assumption into heaven tell us something about Mary, but it also tells us something about heaven. As Caryll Houselander once said, we don’t know much about heaven, but one thing we do know is that in heaven, Mary is with God. Unlike the countless souls that we pray are already in heaven, Mary’s soul and body are there. Of course, Jesus’ soul and body are there as well. Mary’s presence assures us that our humanity is there in heaven, and it’s where we are meant to be. Just as Mary spent her life as the mother of God, bringing Jesus to others, you and I are called to imitate that by bringing Jesus to those we meet.
These are just some of the ways we can relate to Mary and honor her on this Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We know that Jesus was very close to Mary for most of his life on Earth. He spent his first 30 years with Mary, then began his public life. That was 30 years of Mary teaching Jesus, and then three years of Jesus teaching us. It would be difficult to overemphasize Mary’s role. As St. Maximilian Kolbe would say, we never have to worry about honoring Mary too much, because we will never honor her as much as Jesus did.
Another way to think of Mary’s significance is to think of your own mother. If you are like me and your mother has died, you can imagine and hope for that day when you will be reunited in heaven. And when we are, we will not say, “You used to be my mom.” Similarly for Jesus. He doesn’t point to Mary and say, “She used to be my mother” but rather, “She is my mother.” And she’s our mother as well.
Mary wants what’s best for her children. As glorious as Mary’s assumption into heaven is, we may not be in a glorious place right now. Whatever might be causing us stress, sadness, or anxiety, we look to heaven. There, our mother waits for us. She reminds us that we are precious in God’s eyes and that we are made, not for the small satisfactions of this world, but for the great joy of heaven. Every time we take our rosary in our hand, we allow Our Lady to take us by the hand, and guide us toward our true home, where she resides. And like any mother, she can’t wait to see us.
On the Solemnity of the Assumption, we honor Mary because she has been assumed into heaven, because where she has gone, we are meant to follow, and because no matter how much we honor her, we will never honor her more than Jesus did. We are called to imitate Mary by bringing Jesus to others, and we can ask Mary to help us do just that.
