August 15th marks the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While Christ ascended into Heaven by His own power, Mary was assumed into Heaven by the power of God, body and soul.
This special privilege was granted Mary due to her unique role as the mother of Jesus and her sinless nature. Mary may have died on earth in the presence of the Apostles, but when her tomb was opened at the request of Thomas, it was found to be empty. This fact has been widely known since the council of Chalcedon in 451. Nevertheless, on November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of the Church, affirming what Christians have known for centuries:
“We pronounce, declare and define it to be 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 to heavenly glory.”
The Assumption of Our Lady is a Holy Day of Obligation, worldwide.
All-powerful and ever-living God: You raised the sinless Virgin Mary, mother of your Son, body and soul, to the glory of heaven. May we see heaven as our final goal, and come to share her glory.
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Our Lady of GraceIn 1830 Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure, and told her to commission the "Miraculous Medal." This image has come to be known as "Our Lady of Grace" because Our Lady assures us that those who wear this medal with confidence will receive significant grace. This lovely wood statue, sculpted by nuns in the monasteries of Bethlehem, France, is 8 inches tall and comes in two colour options. |
The Virgin of VladimirLegend attributes this tender Byzantine Icon, of Mary holding Jesus, to Saint Luke. Reliable documents record it being sent by a Patriarch in Constantinople to the Grand Duke of Keiv, in 1131. It is greatly venerated in Russia, with a history of protecting the people, and from 1395 to 1917, it resided at Our Lady of the Dormition of Vladimir, near Moscow, which was built to house this beautiful religious portrait. |
Our Lady of HopeDuring the Franco-Prussian War, the Prussian army was about to invade the village in Pontmain, when Our Lady appeared to six children in the village and told them to pray for protection. Our Lady of Hope gives us the assurance of never being abandoned, and the hope of being united with our Lord in Heaven. This 10" wooden statue depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary holding The Baby Jesus. It is hand sculpted and finished in a light stain by the craftsmen in Val Gardena, Italy. |
