Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life is a defined dogma of the Catholic Church. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared in Munificentissimus Deus that it is a divinely revealed dogma: “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 (44).”

It is a Holy Day of Obligation and the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass and to avoid (to the extent that they are able) servile work (Canon 1246-1247). Come August 15 let us all flock to the Church to celebrate this feast. As one we pray:

“Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb

was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”