"The august tabernacle of the Divine Word had never been reduced to dust and ashes."

Detail of mosaic of Our Lady's Assumption. The National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.

Those beautiful words were written by Pope Pius XII in 1950, to illustrate this truth of our faith that we celebrate this Sunday, August 15th.  Upon the completion of her earthly life, God took the Blessed Virgin Mary - body and soul - into heavenly glory.  We call this the Assumption.

“We pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of [Mary’s] glory” (Collect for the Solemnity).

Mary’s Assumption into heaven was the beginning and image of the Church coming to perfection, and thus a sign of sure hope and comfort to us (cf. Preface for the Solemnity).

Let us rejoice in Mary’s Assumption, for it shows us the glory in store for us who imitate her example.  At Christ’s Second Coming, the just will be bodily glorified, as Mary is now privileged to experience.

David J. Conrad