The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The meaning of the celebration

+ On this day, the Church solemnly celebrates the Paschal mystery of Christ in a special way as she recalls the unique relationship between the Virgin Mary and her Son and the truth that, at the completion of her earthly life, Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul.

+ The Solemnity of the Assumption is the celebration of the eternal happiness and glory that all the faithful are called to share and which we believe will be ours in the Kingdom of Heaven.

+ August 15 also marks the feast of Our Lady of La Vang, the name given to an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1798 to a group of Vietnamese Catholics who had taken refuge in the rainforest of La Vang in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. Although the apparition has not been approved by the Holy See, the comfort and encouragement Our Lady provided during the apparition has become a source of great courage and consolation for Vietnamese Catholics throughout the world.

For prayer and reflection

“Brothers and sisters, Mary today sings of hope and rekindles hope in us. In her, we see the destination of our journey. She is the first creature who, with her whole self, body and soul, victoriously crosses the finish line of Heaven. She shows us that Heaven is within reach. How come? Yes, Heaven is within reach, if we too do not give in to sin, if we praise God in humility and serve others generously.”—Pope Francis

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also remember the Franciscan lay brother Blessed Claudio Granzotto. A gifted artist, Blessed Claudio was also known for his prayerful spirit and charity to the poor. He died on August 15, 1900, in San Lucia di Piave, Treviso, Italy, and was beatified in 1994.

Vocations

Several communities of men and women religious are named for the mystery of the Assumption. To learn more, visit the links below.

For men:

The Benedictine Monks of Assumption Abbey (Richardton, ND): https://assumptionabbey.com/

The Trappist Monks of Assumption Abbey (Ava, MO): www.assumptionabbey.org

The Assumptionists (Augustinians of the Assumption): www.assumption.us

For women:

Religious of the Assumption: www.assumptionsisters.org

Little Sisters of the Assumption: www.littlesisters.org

Carmel of the Assumption (Latrobe, PA): www.latrobecarmel.org

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God,
who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son,
body and soul into heavenly glory,
grant, we pray,
that, always attentive to the things that are above,
we may merit to be sharers of her glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.