Mary

Our Lady of the Assumption

10 Things Every Catholic Should Know About the Feast of the Assumption

  • 10 Facts about the Feast of the AssumptionThe Feast of the Assumption celebrates the belief that Mary, the Mother of God, was taken up body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is also known as the Feast of the Dormition in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which means “the falling asleep” of Mary.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is one of the oldest Marian feasts, dating back to the 4th century C.E. in Jerusalem .

  • The Feast of the Assumption is a holy day of obligation for Catholics, meaning they are required to attend Mass on that day.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is also a public holiday in many countries, such as France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Poland, and parts of Germany and Switzerland.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is associated with various traditions and customs around the world, such as blessing herbs, fruits, and flowers; processions with statues of Mary; and fireworks displays.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is also linked to the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth, which is depicted in many artworks and icons.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is based on both Scripture and Tradition, as Pope Pius XII explained in his dogmatic definition in 1950. Some biblical passages that support the doctrine are Genesis 3:15, Psalm 132:8, Song of Songs 3:6, Luke 1:28-42, Revelation 12:1-6.

  • The Feast of the Assumption is a sign of hope and joy for all Christians, as it shows that Mary shares in the glory of her Son’s resurrection and anticipates the resurrection of all members of his body .

  • The Feast of the Assumption is an occasion to honor Mary as our mother and model of faith, who intercedes for us and guides us in our journey to God.

 

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What is the devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption?

Discover the Meaning Behind the Feast of the AssumptionDevotion to Our Lady of the Assumption is a Catholic devotion that honors the Virgin Mary, who is believed to have been assumed into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. This devotion is rooted in the belief that the Virgin Mary, as the mother of Jesus and the mother of the Church, is a model of faith and grace, and a powerful intercessor who can help individuals to live their lives in accordance with the will of God.

The devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption is based on the doctrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is the belief that at the end of her earthly life, the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul, by God. This doctrine is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but it is based on Sacred Tradition, which is the oral and written teaching of the Church.

One of the main reasons for the devotion’s popularity is the belief in the Virgin Mary as the mother of Jesus and the mother of the Church. According to Catholic theology, the Virgin Mary is the perfect example of faith, grace, and obedience to God’s will, and her assumption into heaven is seen as the fulfillment of her role as the mother of Jesus and the mother of the Church.

The devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption is often associated with a particular image or statue of the Virgin Mary, which is venerated by devotees. The statue or image typically depicts the Virgin Mary being assumed into heaven, often accompanied by angels or other figures. This image is believed to be a powerful reminder of the Virgin Mary’s role as the mother of Jesus and the mother of the Church and her fulfillment as a model of faith, grace, and obedience to God’s will.

The devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption is celebrated in various ways by Catholics around the world. One of the most popular ways of celebrating this devotion is by offering special masses, liturgical celebrations and processions in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption. Many churches also dedicate special novenas, devotions and Rosary in her honor.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption is celebrated on August 15th in the Catholic Church. This feast day is an opportunity for Catholics to give thanks for the life of the Virgin Mary, her assumption into heaven and her intercession. Many communities around the world organize processions where the statue or image of Our Lady of the Assumption is carried through the streets, followed by hymns and prayers.

Many Catholics believe that by offering devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption, they are placing themselves under her protection and guidance, and that her example of faith and grace in her life can be an inspiration to them in their own lives. Additionally, her assumption into heaven is seen as a reminder that the ultimate goal of human life is to be united with God in heaven, and that the Virgin Mary is the perfect example of this goal.

Devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption is a way for Catholics to honor the Virgin Mary as the mother of Jesus, the mother of the Church, and as a powerful intercessor who can help individuals to live their lives in accordance with the will of God. This devotion is celebrated through prayer, liturgical celebrations, processions and devotions. It reminds that through faith, grace and obedience to God’s will, the ultimate goal of human life is to be united with God in heaven and that the Virgin Mary is the perfect example of this goal.

When is the feast day of Our Lady of the Assumption?

The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Assumption is celebrated annually on August 15th. It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics and is one of the oldest Marian feast days in the liturgical calendar.

The Feast of the Assumption commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. This belief is based on the doctrine of the Assumption which was defined as a dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

On the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Assumption, many Catholics will attend a special Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary. There may also be a procession with a statue of Our Lady of the Assumption, and many people will offer prayers and light candles in honor of the Virgin Mary.

The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Assumption is an opportunity for Catholics to honor the Virgin Mary and to remember her assumption into heaven. It is also a reminder of the belief in the resurrection of the body and the eternal life promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ.

 

The biblical basis for the assumption of Mary

 
Feast of the AssumptionThe Catholic Church teaches that Mary, the Mother of God, was assumed into heaven body and soul at the end of her earthly life. This doctrine is not explicitly stated in Scripture, but it is implicitly present in some passages that refer to Mary as the “woman clothed with the sun” in Revelation 12 and the ark of the covenant in 2 Samuel 6 and Revelation 11.
 
The woman clothed with the sun is seen as a symbol of both the Church and Mary, who gave birth to Christ, the “male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (Rev 12:5). The woman is also attacked by a dragon, identified as Satan, who tries to devour her child and persecute her offspring. The woman is then given “the two wings of the great eagle” to fly to a place of safety in the desert (Rev 12:14). This imagery suggests that Mary, like the Church, is protected by God from the evil one and shares in the victory of her Son.
 
The ark of the covenant was a sacred chest that contained the tablets of the law, the manna, and the staff of Aaron. It represented God’s presence and power among his people. In 2 Samuel 6, we read that David brought the ark to Jerusalem with great joy and reverence, dancing before it and offering sacrifices. In Revelation 11:19, we read that “God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple.” The next verse introduces the vision of the woman clothed with the sun. The connection between the ark and the woman implies that Mary is the new ark of the covenant, who carried Jesus, the Word of God, the Bread of Life, and the High Priest, in her womb. As such, Mary is honored and glorified by God and his people.
 

The early Church Fathers who testified to the tradition of Mary’s assumption

 
The doctrine of the assumption of Mary is also based on the tradition of the early Church Fathers, who wrote about Mary’s departure from this world in various ways. Some of them used the term “dormition” (falling asleep) to describe Mary’s death, while others preferred to call it “assumption” or “translation” to heaven. Some of them also mentioned that Mary’s tomb was empty and that her body was taken up by angels or by Christ himself.
 
One of the earliest witnesses to this tradition is St. Ephrem (d. 373), a Syrian deacon and poet, who wrote: “You are holy in your body and soul, you are sanctified in your body and soul; your body did not remain in [the] grave; neither did your spirit suffer corruption” (Hymns on Virginity 27:8).
 
Another witness is St. Gregory of Tours (d. 594), a French bishop and historian, who wrote: “The Lord commanded that [Mary’s] holy body be borne on a cloud to paradise; where now rejoicing with Christ’s chosen ones and joined to them in blessedness she gives praise to God forever” (Eight Books of Miracles 1:4).
 
A third witness is St. John Damascene (d. 749), a Greek monk and theologian, who wrote: “This day [August 15] …the holy Mother of God experienced temporal death only to be delivered from it into life eternal … She kept her virginity intact even after childbirth; so she remained incorruptible even after death … Her body was taken up into heaven with psalms and hymns … It was fitting that she who had kept her virginity unimpaired through childbirth should have her body preserved from decay after death; it was fitting that she who had carried her Creator as a child on her breast should dwell in God’s tabernacles; it was fitting that she who had gazed on her Son on the cross … should contemplate him seated next to his Father; it was fitting that God’s Mother should possess what belongs to her Son; it was fitting that she should be honored by every creature as God’s Mother and handmaid” (Homily on Dormition 1-2).
 

The different names and dates of the feast in the Eastern and Western Churches

 
The feast of Mary’s assumption into heaven is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but with different names and dates. In the Catholic Church, the feast is called the **Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary** and is celebrated on **August 15**. It is a holy day of obligation, meaning that Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day. The feast commemorates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.
 
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast is called the **Dormition of the Theotokos** or the **Falling Asleep of the Mother of God**. It is celebrated on **August 28** according to the Julian calendar, which corresponds to August 15 in the Gregorian calendar. The feast celebrates the belief that Mary died a natural death and was assumed into heaven by Christ before her body decayed. The Orthodox Church also observes a two-week fasting period before the feast, called the Dormition Fast.
 

The significance of Mary’s assumption for our own hope of resurrection and eternal life, as well as her role as our mother and intercessor in heaven

 
The assumption of Mary is not only a celebration of her glory, but also a sign of our own hope of resurrection and eternal life. As Pope Pius XII declared in his dogmatic definition of the assumption in 1950, “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” and “anticipated the resurrection of all members of his Body” . Mary’s assumption shows us that God will raise us up at the end of time and grant us a share in his glory.
 
Mary’s assumption also reveals her role as our mother and intercessor in heaven. As Pope St. John Paul II said in a homily for the Assumption, “Taken up into Heaven, Mary shows us the way to God, the way to Heaven, the way to life. She shows it to her children baptized in Christ and to all people of good will. She opens this way especially to the little ones and to the poor, those who are dear to divine mercy. The Queen of the world reveals to individuals and to nations the power of the love of God” . Mary prays for us and helps us to follow her Son more closely.
 

Prayers to Our Lady of the Assumption

Our Lady of the Assumption is a title given to the Virgin Mary in recognition of her bodily assumption into heaven. The Assumption of Mary is a doctrine of the Catholic Church that states that, at the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed into heaven, both body and soul, in a way that is unique to her among all humans. The feast of the Assumption of Mary is celebrated annually on August 15th and it is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church.

One of the most popular prayers to Our Lady of the Assumption is the “Memorare of Our Lady of the Assumption.” This prayer is said by many Catholics as an act of devotion to the Virgin Mary, and it goes as follows:

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.”

Another popular prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption is the “”Prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption.”” This prayer is said by many Catholics as an act of devotion to the Virgin Mary, and it goes as follows:

“O Most Holy Virgin, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Eternal Word, today we celebrate the mystery of your Assumption into heaven, body and soul. We praise and thank God for the great privilege that He has granted you, and we implore your powerful intercession before the Throne of God. Obtain for us, by your merits and intercession, the grace to lead a holy life, to imitate your virtues, and to share in the glory of your Assumption. Amen.”

The devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption is an expression of love and honor for the Virgin Mary and her unique role in salvation history. It is also an invitation to reflect on the ultimate destiny of the human person, the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come.

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