The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“ALL HONOR TO YOU, MARY!”

    We read in the Alleluia Verse of the Mass of the Assumption: “Mary is taken up to heaven and the angels of God shout for joy.” Indeed, the entire Mystical Body of Christ in heaven, purgatory and on earth shouts for joy. At the end of her life the Virgin Mother of God is gloriously assumed into heaven. In the splendor of heaven, her divine Son crowns her the Queen of heaven and earth.

    The Solemnity of the Assumption is one of the most significant liturgies of the entire year for us. It reminds us that one day we too must face the end of our lives. Where will we spend eternity? Will we be numbered among the sheep of Christ or among the goats, who will be cast into the outer darkness?

    In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells us that at the end of time, Christ,"after having destroyed every sovereignty, authority, and power,” will hand over the Kingdom of God to the Father." The work of redemption will have come to its final completion. Christ, Our Lord, will have won complete victory over sin, Satan, and death.

    Practically every word of the liturgy prays for the eternal salvation of the faithful. We read in the Opening Prayer: “May we see heaven as our final goal and come to share her glory!” At the offertory, the Priest prays: “You raised her up to heaven. By her prayers, help us to seek you and live in your love.” In the Closing Prayer, the Church prays: “May we who receive this sacrament of salvation be led to the glory of heaven by the prayers of the Virgin Mary?”

    The Church gives us the example of Our Blessed Mother as the image of the Church, the perfect pattern of what all of us should and must become. The Virgin Mary is our mother and our model. The mystery is captured in the Preface of the Mass: “Today the Virgin Mother of God was taken up into heaven to be the beginning and the pattern of the church in its perfection, and as a sure sign of hope and comfort for your people on their pilgrim way.” Finally, the Church offers praise to Mary as the highest honor of our race. The preface goes on to pray: “You would not let decay touch her body for she had given birth to your Son, the Lord of all life, in the glory of the incarnation.”

    From our small part of the world, let us join with the whole Mystical Body of Christ, both in heaven and on earth, in singing the praises of Mary, the Queen of the Universe: “ALL HONOR TO YOU, MARY! TODAY YOU WERE RAISED ABOVE THE CHOIRS OF ANGELS TO LASTING GLORY WITH CHRIST.” As the pastor of your souls, it is my fervent prayer that every member of the Immaculate Conception Parish will be united in heaven one day with Christ Our King and Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God and Our Blessed Mother for all eternity! Amen!

                                      Father Richard J. Rego