Annually on 15 August we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. This celebration affirms our belief that Mary, is in heaven.
This feast originated in a sixth century feast of the Dormition or ‘Falling Asleep of Mary’. By the seventh century the feast became known as the Assumption of Mary.
“The date of this feast commemorated a very ancient harvest festival towards the end of summer in the northern hemisphere, which gave thanks to the Earth Mother for her fertility in producing the harvest.
The feast of the Assumption commemorates the glorification of Mary, chosen by God, to be the mother of Jesus the Christ. The feast acquired a special status as a feast of Mary when Pius XII in 1950 defined the Assumption as a dogma of faith.
On this feast we are encouraged to affirm our humanity and work to enhance the dignity of people as daughters and sons of God.”
(Taken from Stories and Seasons: Saints and Feasts for Catholic Schools and Parishes by Kevin Treston)
PRAYER:
Empowering God, inspire us by the example of Mary’s openness to your love. May we live by this attitude and bring to birth a new world!
We make this prayer through Jesus the Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.