Chronicles 15.3-4,15-16;16.1-2 | Revelation 11.19a,12.1.3-6a,10ab | Luke 1.39-56

On August 15th, Mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the fourth glorious mystery of the Holy Rosary. In some countries, the solemnity is postponed to the following Sunday to facilitate the participation of the faithful.

This is a dogma of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope Pius XII in 1950, which declares that the Mother of Jesus, at the end of Her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into Heaven. Dogma is a truth of faith taught by the Church that must be accepted by the faithful.

We are beginning the third week of the Vocations Month, which is dedicated to Consecrated Religious Life. We pray for the perseverance of the sisters and brothers who follow Jesus in the radical practice of poverty, obedience, and chastity in the various institutes, orders, and congregations throughout the world, who enrich the Church with the charism and spirituality inherited from its founders, with the Blessed Virgin Mary as their model and inspiration.

Today, the Evangelist Luke tells us of Mary's visit to her relative Elizabeth and the famous Magnificat, the hymn that speaks of the wonders God worked in Mary. This is the second joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary.

In short, Elizabeth was informed by John the Baptist (in her womb) and by the Holy Spirit about the presence of God the Son in Mary's womb, joyfully prophesying that all generations would recognize Her as blessed among all women.

We conclude that those who allow themselves to be moved by the Holy Spirit belong to the generation that joyfully blesses Mary as the Mother of the Lord.

With an exultant heart, Mary magnified the Lord for the wonders He worked in Her. The Evangelist Luke was certainly inspired by the praise of Anna, the mother of the prophet Samuel (cf. 1 Samuel 2:1-10). The hymn of the Magnificat is sung every evening by the Church during Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Lord's merciful love and faithfulness are exalted in the history of His people, Israel, casting down the arrogant and elevating the humble. With the same prophetic spirit as Elizabeth, Mary repeated that all generations would bless her.

The greatest wonder the Lord performed in Mary was to raise Her body and soul to Heaven at the end of Her earthly life. The Lord looked upon the lowliness of His servant and, through the merits of the incarnation and redemption, He exalted the Mother of God the Son, Savior.

As we bless Mary, we grow in faith that we too, at the end of our earthly lives, will be resurrected and will be in Heaven, body and soul, through the infinite mercy and love of the Lord in Christ Jesus. Everything the Lord did in advance in Mary is also being done in us, through Christ and the Church.

Today, the author of the books of Chronicles tells us about the ark of the Lord and its joyful transfer to the place specially prepared by King David. The ark contained the tablets of the Law given by the Lord to Moses.

The entire people of Israel had been summoned to Jerusalem. The transfer by the Levites followed Moses' orders, with joyful music and various musical instruments. Burnt offerings and communion sacrifices were offered before God. Finally, the people were blessed by David in the name of the Lord.

Just as the people of Israel honored the ark of the Lord, the new people of God (the Church) honor the ark of the new covenant, which is Mary, who contained the Holy of Holies, the Son of God the Savior.

Just as King David determined that the ark of the Lord be transferred to the place specially prepared for it, God determined that Mary be taken body and soul to Heaven at the end of her earthly life. 

Just as all the people had been summoned and joyful music was sung, on the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us rejoice with the Church throughout the world.

Today, the Evangelist John tells us in the book of Revelation about the famous sign of the pregnant Woman before the great Dragon.

In short, the Woman gave birth to a son, who came to rule all nations. The son was taken to God and His throne. The Woman went to the place God had prepared for Her.

The early Christian communities identified Jesus with the one born to rule all nations. Thus, the Woman was identified as Mary, robed with the Lord (clothed with the sun), victorious over evil (with the moon under Her feet), united with the Church (crowned with twelve stars above Her head).

The expression "being taken up to God" was a reference to Jesus' Ascension into Heaven; and the expression "having gone to the place prepared by God" was a reference to Mary's Assumption into Heaven.

On today's solemnity, let us hear the loud voice in Heaven proclaiming: "Now have come the salvation, and the strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ." The Lord is wonderful in the lives of His saints, particularly the Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed into Heaven. She is the ark of the covenant that appeared when the Temple of God was opened.

Contemplating the Virgin Mary, may many young men and women hear God's call and consecrate themselves to the Lord in religious life.