Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Ah, today is the feast of the Assumption.

On November 1st in the Holy Year of 1950, Pope Pius XII using the gift of Papal Infallibility, solemnly defined the Dogma (the Greek word for truth) of our Lady's Assumption when he said, "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."

Does this mean that the idea of Assumption was invented on this day? No. It was merely declared to be true on this day. The idea of Mary’s Assumption already came up during the time of the early Christians.

One may say, “How can this be possible if it’s not written in the Bible?” Well my friends, a lot of things are not written in the Bible. But that will be explained at another time.

In the Resurrection, the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ underwent a miraculous change, so that He received a Glorified Body, a body that would never again suffer pain or death, proving that He is really the King of kings and Lord of lords. He Alone is victorious over sin and death; thus defeating Satan and overcoming the world!

When Mary’s earthly life was drawing to an end, our Lord deemed it fitting that Mary should now share in and enjoy His victory. And what did God do for His Immaculate Mother? Shortly after Her death, the Lord received our Lady, Body and Soul into Heaven. For as Mary had shared in our Lord's terrible sufferings and death, so it was just that She should share in His Bodily Resurrection. Our Lord did not wish His Temple that is Her Body, to undergo corruption or decay in the tomb.

So what does this Assumption thingy really mean for all of us? Well, it means that God keeps His promises. We know that at the end of time, our souls will be reunited with our bodies, which will be resurrected, never to suffer and die again. As it goes in the Creed,

“We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints,the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting, Amen.”

He will share with all of His Faithful ones, His own Glorious Victory over sin and death.

Let us ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother, that God will grant us the grace to make our journey towards our final destination.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen.

天主圣母玛利亚，求您现在和我们临终时，为我们罪人祈求天主。亚孟。