Homily Assumption 2007

It was in 1950 that Pope Pius XII
solemnly defined the teaching of the Assumption of Mary…
that Mary was assumed…body and soul…into heaven.

Although the Assumption was not officially defined as a doctrine of the Church
until recently…
the Church has believed in it since her earliest centuries.

Tradition tell us that St. Thomas was absent when Mary died,
and, as He doubted the resurrection and wanted to see Jesus’ wounds…
so he wanted to see Mary’s body for himself.

So the Apostles took him to Mary’s tomb.
There they found the tomb empty.

As Mary is assumed…body and soul…into heavenly glory…
she drops down her veil to Saint Thomas…
as a sign that she has passed into her eternal reward.

The Assumption has been celebrated by Catholics
of both the Roman and Eastern rites
since at least the sixth century.

The Church has always believed that Mary’s body was taken up to heaven
and never was allowed to be corrupted.
God, in his wisdom, chose Mary from eternity to be the mother of Jesus.

Because of the singular role she would play in the plan of salvation…
she was immaculately conceived…
preserved from all stain of original sin…
to be the perfect vessel which would bear the savior.

And so it was fitting that she was freed from the corruption of death,
which is the effect of sin.


Of course there is no Gospel text that records the moment of Mary’s Assumption.
For today the Church gives us the Gospel of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth,
and Mary’s famous song of praise: the Magnificat.

As Mary experiences and reflects on the greatest moment of her life…
the moment when she is visited by an angel
who tells her she will conceive the Son of God…
she does two very human…natural…things:

First, she runs in haste to share her joyful news with her dear cousin Elizabeth.
How often we want to share our news with those we love.

And second, as she reflects upon her what has happened to her…
she produces a beautiful work of art…an exquisite poem of praise.

As the Holy Father Pope Benedict once wrote about the Magnificat…
“This marvelous canticle mirrors the entire soul, the entire personality of Mary.”

The Magnificat shows us what a beautiful person Mary was…
how she rejoiced in God’s presence in her life…
how she trusted completely in His providential care.

Mary is the perfect woman of faith.
She is also the perfect mother…
and the perfect disciple.
Mary is poor in spirit…a truly humble servant.
She is a pure, chaste, virgin.
She is obedient to God always.

Mary is everything for us… a living example of perfect discipleship!

Because Mary has been assumed into heaven…
she is united to Jesus…her son and her God…
and already shares in the fruits of His Resurrection.


In the order of grace she is our Mother too…
the loving helper and advocate of all who believe in her Son.

We place our faith in the reality that Mary is at the side of Jesus…
interceding for us
and giving us hope that we can attain heavenly glory ourselves.

The Feast of the Assumption is a sign of hope for the world!

Yet, if we hope to go where she has gone…
we must live as she lived!

As she received the joyful news of Christ’s presence in her life…
and took that news in haste to one she loved…
so we rejoice that Christ has come to us…
and we accept our calling to bring His love and truth to those we love.

Mary teaches us to take the love of Christ to others…
and to live our lives in constant praise of God.

As we come now to receive the Body and Blood
of the same Jesus whom she once held in her loving arms…
may we strive to love Him as she did.

May we live as she lived…
with total and unconditional love for the Lord Jesus…
that we may at last attain to the glory she now enjoys!

Holy Mary, pray for us!