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EARTHLY LIFE COMPLETED - SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION (8/15/2021)
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Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6,10
Psalm 45
1 Cor. 15:20-26
Luke 1:39-56
EARTHLY LIFE COMPLETED
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was defined as a dogma of faith by the Venerable Pope Pius XII in 1950. He did not, however, settle the question of whether or not Mary died before being taken to heaven. Some hold that, since death is a punishment for original sin from which Mary was preserved from the moment of her conception, she did not have to die. Another opinion holds that since Mary was so closely united with her Son, who suffered death on the cross for our salvation, she also would have experienced physical death, just as Jesus did. The question was, and still is, left open.
REVELATION
The woman described in Revelation 12 has been interpreted variously as being Israel of the Old Testament, the Church, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The fact is, Our Lady is frequently depicted with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars, as in Revelation. The “male child, destined to rule the nations,” obviously refers to Jesus, the Messiah and Son of Mary.
The Responsorial, Psalm 45, honors Our Blessed Lady, assumed into heavenly glory: “The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.”
GOSPEL
The gospel chosen for today is the beautiful account of Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth. We hear Elizabeth’s words, which have been incorporated into the Hail Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary responds with the words of her Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Since the actual event of the Assumption of Mary is not explicitly stated in Scripture, some of the basis for her privilege is given here: Mary is blessed among all women because the child in her womb is blessed. Mary is blessed precisely because God chose her, and she believed that the word of the Lord to her would be fulfilled.
FIRST CORINTHIANS
Our second reading proclaims the resurrection of Jesus, the “first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” St. Paul tells us that all who are “in Christ” will be raised along with him at his coming.
Just as Our Lady was preserved from original sin in view of the merits of Christ’s redeeming death and resurrection, so she anticipated the general resurrection by being assumed into heaven, body and soul united, as all the saved will be at the end of time.
“NEVER ENOUGH ABOUT MARY”
Prior to Vatican II, the first reading of the Mass of the Assumption was taken from Judith 13: 22-25; 15:10 and applied to Our Lady in her victory over Satan, sin and death: “Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who has directed you to cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies…You are the glory of Jerusalem, the surpassing joy of Israel; you are the splendid boast of our people.” I have always remembered this as an especially powerful reading in honor of Our Blessed Lady.
Similarly, I have treasured this verse from the Song of Songs, also applied to Mary: “Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, as beautiful as the moon, as resplendent as the sun, as awe-inspiring as bannered troops” (Songs 6:10). Today’s solemnity aptly calls to mind the adage of St. Bernard, “about Mary, one can never say enough.”
