This week the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared that « by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory » (Pope Pius XII, Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, 1 Nov 1950, no. 44).

Though this formal, dogmatic definition was only promulgated in the middle of last century, the belief of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is rooted early in the Church's faith and worship. As early as the 6th Century, there are liturgical texts in both the Christian East and West that celebrate Mary's Dormition, that is, her "falling asleep" in the Lord at the end of her earthly existence. Indeed, the notion of "falling asleep" was a New Testament euphemism for one's earthly death (Cf. 1 Cor 15:6). To be sure, the Western Church has never formally declared that the Blessed Virgin Mary specifically died, because she is "full of grace" (Lk 1:28), and those who do not share in Original Sin do not reap the pain of death. (Cf. Rom 6:23)

The Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption is the crowning achievement of her vocation as Virgin and Mother. In her Immaculate Conception, she was preserved from the stain of Original Sin, whereby she was able to give fully her "Yes" (Fiat!) to the message of the Archangel Gabriel. (Cf. Pope Pius IX, Encyclical Ineffabilis Deus, 8 Dec 1854) Thus, at the end of her earthly existence, the Blessed Virgin Mary receives this unique, privileged grace of being fully Assumed into Heaven – Body and Soul. Thus, she – fully seeing God "face to face", she beholds her Beloved Son whom she bore in her womb; him whom she witnessed in his Passion, Death and Resurrection; and him who Ascended into Heaven when the forty days were over. Thus, where her Son went, thus, too – by this unique, privileged grace – the Blessed Mother now dwells – as a Saint among the Saints in the Halls of Heaven. (Cf. Roman Missal, 3rd ed., Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation I.) She beholds the Lord in her sight, interceding for us on our behalf.

Where we see Mary, we see the Church!

In this, too, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the true image of the Church. (Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Council on the Church Lumen gentium, 21 Nov 1964, no. 63.) Where we see Mary, we see the Church! Thus, the Blessed Virgin, arrayed in Glory, Assumed Body and Soul, she prefigures our own eternal existence in the light of Heaven! Even after our own earthly death, we too hope that we will be – at the General Resurrection of the Body – reunited with our own glorified bodies, beholding the Human Face of God, offering the eternal Sacrifice of Praise as we bow before the Ancient One, the Lamb who was Slain. (Cf. Rev 5:12)

O Mary, who was conceived without Original Sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!