IN MARY, WE HAVE A REASON TO HOPE

 IN MARY, WE HAVE A REASON TO HOPE

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her life became the basis of the Church to declare this feast in her honor and as a fruit of her relationship with the Lord Jesus. Let us go back to November 1, 1950 and re-read the Bull of Pius XII, Muneficentissimus Deus:

“The remarkable unanimity of the Catholic Episcopacy and faithful in the matter of the definability of the Lady’s bodily assumption into Heaven as a dogma of faith shows us that the ordinary teaching authority of the Church and the belief of the faithful which it sustains and directs were in accord, and thereby proved with infallible certainty, that the privilege is a truth revealed by God and is contained in the divine deposit which Christ entrusted to His bride the Church, to be guarded faithfully and declared with infallible certainty.”

This feast points us to her greatness as a fellow human being and as the one chosen by God to be the Mother of her Son. Mary shows us the way. She gave us an example and inspiration to be good Christians. She was the first and perfect disciple. Discipleship leads to glory. Being a true Christian brings us to our true home in heaven.

It is a dogma, something we believe as Catholics. Without belief in it, we are not Catholics. It is not just a decision of the Church hierarchy. It was already, in truth, being lived by the faithful. These are testimonies that it was revealed by God. When something comes from God, we believe it.

While we glorify Mary on this day, we should be aware that all Marian feasts cannot stand by themselves. They are all anchored on the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Assumption of Mary was a fulfillment of the promise of the resurrection which Jesus experienced. It was due to the death and resurrection of Jesus that we have the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the end, the feast is essentially the glorification of Jesus, the Son of God.

Hope we must, hope we have, hope fulfilled. Thanks to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we have heaven as our home. Fr. Benny Tuazon

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

What is Mama Mary’s role in your life?

Continue to intercede for us, Mama Mary. We love you. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________