“The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.” (from Ineffabilis Deus) We celebrate this moment of our Blessed Mother’s life on December 8.

Of her were said the words, “Hail, Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” by the Archangel Gabriel, who brought her tidings of great joy: she was to be the Theotokos, the Mother of God. “This was not an ordinary man who was at first begotten of the holy Virgin, and the the Word descended upon him: rather, the Word united flesh to himself from his mother’s womb […]” (Council of Ephesus, in DS 251)

Of her we hold from the most ancient days that she conceived and bore our Savior, the Word Incarnate, and retained her virginity before and after his birth. (Credal evidence beginning mid-4th century in DS 44, 46; explicit in Tome of Leo, 449, see DS 291)

Of this same woman we say 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. (from Munificentissimus Deus)

These are the four Marian dogmas of our Catholic faith. They form the basis of our understanding of Mary, and each points us to God. As Catholics, we must accept these teachings, or we cannot call ourselves Catholic.

But who would not want to hold these wondrous teachings of so gentle and loving a mother? In our church’s prayers, we say of her:

  • Blessed are you, O Mary, for the world’s salvation came forth from you
  • You are the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel; you are the fairest honor of our race.
  • The Virgin Mary is exalted above the choirs of angels; let all believers rejoice and bless the Lord
  • O Virgin Mary, how great your cause for joy; God found you worthy to bear Christ our Savior.
  • The Lord has made you so glorious that your praise will never cease to resound among men.

In Revelation, we hear St. John’s words:

God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

This is no golden ark carried on poles containing the Ten Commandments of Aaron’s staff, it is our Blessed Mother. St. John continues:

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

When the ark of the old covenant was brought into the Jerusalem temple, King David and all the attendants of his throne danced and sang for joy. On this day, when we celebrate Mary’s entrance, body and soul, into Heaven, we witness the ark of the new covenant being brought into the eternal and heavenly temple of the New Jerusalem. St. John Damascene remarks that “This day the holy and animated Ark of the living God, which had held within it its own Maker, is borne to rest in that Temple of the Lord, which is not made with hands. David, whence it sprang, leapeth before it, and in company with him the Angels dance, the Archangels sing aloud, the Virtues ascribe glory, the Princedoms shout for joy, the Powers make merry, the Lordships rejoice, the Thrones keep holiday, the Cherubim utter praise, and the Seraphim proclaim its glory.” (from Oratio 2 de Dormit. BMV, as found in Reading 4, Roman Breviary)

For such a wondrous Mother, the words of St. Paul ring true, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55) Indeed, how could death cause her any fear or even dare to touch one united so closely to Christ, not only through her motherhood, but as the first and greatest of all our Lord’s disciples?

St. Peter Canisius says of this day, “the Feast of the Assumption is considered the greatest and holdeth chief place. Indeed there was no happier or more joyful day for Mary, if we duly consider the happiness of both body and soul granted to her on that day. Then especially, as never before, her spirit, soul and body rejoiced wondrously in the living God and she could rightfully say: He hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden; for behold, all generations shall call me blessed; for he that is mighty hath magnified me.” (from De Maria Deipara Virgine, lib. 5, c. 6 as found in Reading 7, Roman Breviary)

In St. John’s Revelation(/Apocalypse), we hear that “He child was caught up to God and his throne.” How could her heart not overflow with joy when she was reunited with him? How can our hearts not be filled with happiness at her joy? How can our hearts not long to share in such great joy?

And so, today, let us be inspired and rejoice with the whole church and all the heavens as we see the culmination of human life to which we are all called, and celebrate with Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church, the Mother most pure and most chaste and most admirable, the Virgin most prudent, venerable, renowned, powerful, merciful, and faithful, the Refuge of Sinners, the Morning Star, the Help of Christians, the Queen of angels and patriarchs, of prophets and apostles, of martyrs and confessors and virgins, and of all saints.

Mary, Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.