The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the unique privilege by which Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, serving as a sign of hope for all believers.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates the belief that God preserved Mary from the decay of the grave and assumed her, body and soul, into heaven at the completion of her earthly life. This event, solemnly defined as a dogma, highlights Mary's unique role as the Mother of God and her perfect union with Christ, serving as an anticipation of the resurrection promised to all who believe. For Christians, this feast day offers profound hope and a glimpse into the destiny of humanity, demonstrating God's ultimate victory over death and the glorification of the human person, inspiring devotion and reinforcing the ultimate goal of eternal life with God.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on August 15th, stands as one of the most significant solemnities in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. It commemorates the unique and singular privilege granted by God to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, whereby at the culmination of her earthly life, she was taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory. This profound belief, deeply rooted in Christian tradition, signifies Mary's special place in salvation history, not only as the Mother of God but also as the first human being to fully experience the resurrection and glorification promised to all faithful believers. It is a testament to the ultimate destiny of humanity, a foretaste of the redemption of the body and soul that awaits those who die in Christ.
It is said that as the Blessed Mother approached the end of her earthly pilgrimage, a profound peace settled upon her, a tranquility born of perfect union with God. The Apostles, dispersed throughout the world preaching the Gospel, were miraculously gathered by divine power to her bedside in Jerusalem. From distant lands, they were borne on clouds, arriving just in time to offer their farewells and witness her peaceful Dormition, her 'falling asleep' in the Lord. They surrounded her, their hearts heavy with sorrow yet filled with a certain holy awe, as she breathed her last, her soul ascending to meet her Son.
With great reverence, the Apostles prepared her body for burial. They laid her in a tomb near Gethsemane, sealing it with a large stone. For three days, a sweet, unearthly fragrance emanated from the tomb, a scent unlike any earthly perfume, filling the air with a heavenly aroma. On the third day, a specific event unfolded that further solidified the miraculous nature of her passing. Saint Thomas, who, according to tradition, had arrived late and missed the Dormition and burial, earnestly desired to see her one last time. To console him and allow him to pay his respects, the Apostles decided to unseal the tomb.
As the heavy stone was rolled away and the tomb opened, instead of the body of Mary, they found only a profusion of fragrant flowers, blooming in vibrant colors within the empty sarcophagus. The sweet aroma intensified, a palpable sign of a divine intervention. It was then that the Apostles understood: Mary's body had not been left to the corruption of the grave. She had been taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory, a singular privilege granted by God. This wondrous event, the Assumption, confirmed her unique purity and her perfect conformity to her Son, making her the first to fully experience the triumph over death and decay, a glorious foreshadowing of the resurrection promised to all believers.
November 1, 1950
The Catholic Church, guided by the Holy Ghost, has solemnly defined the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heavenly glory as a dogma of faith in these words: "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 into heavenly glory."
This truth, based on Sacred Scripture and tradition, has been believed and celebrated by the faithful since the earliest days of Christianity. From the very beginning, the Church has venerated the Mother of God with a special devotion, acknowledging her unique role in salvation history. The early Fathers and Doctors of the Church, though not explicitly defining the Assumption, spoke of Mary's singular holiness, her perpetual virginity, and her intimate association with her Son's triumph over sin and death. They often linked her freedom from original sin and her perfect obedience to God's will with a destiny different from that of other human beings.
Tradition, both written and oral, bears witness to this belief. While no direct scriptural account details Mary's bodily assumption, the Church discerns this truth through a deeper understanding of revelation, illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The New Testament, particularly the account of the Annunciation and the Visitation, presents Mary as uniquely blessed among women, full of grace, and intimately united with Christ from the moment of His Incarnation. Her perfect 'fiat' to God's will, her steadfastness at the foot of the Cross, and her presence among the Apostles at Pentecost all point to her singular relationship with God.
The theological reason for the Assumption rests primarily on Mary's Immaculate Conception and her perfect sinlessness. As the Mother of God, she was preserved from all stain of original sin from the first moment of her conception. This unique privilege meant that she was never subject to the corruption of the grave, which is a consequence of sin. It was fitting that she, who bore the Author of life, should not undergo the decay of death, but rather be glorified in body and soul alongside her Son.
Furthermore, Mary's Assumption is seen as the crowning glory of her cooperation in the work of redemption. Just as she shared intimately in Christ's suffering and death, it was fitting that she should also share in His resurrection and glory. Her bodily assumption is a direct consequence of her perfect union with Christ, demonstrating the complete victory over sin and death achieved through Him. She is the first fruit of His redemptive work, a sign and pledge of the future resurrection of all who are united to Christ.
This belief has been expressed throughout the centuries in various forms of piety, liturgical celebrations, and theological reflections. From the earliest liturgical feasts commemorating Mary's 'Dormition' or 'falling asleep,' to the widespread popular devotion, the conviction that Mary's body was not left to corruption has been a constant in the life of the Church. The constant belief of the Christian people, expressed in their prayers, art, and customs, is a powerful witness to this divinely revealed truth.
The definition of the Assumption in 1950 by Pope Pius XII was not a new doctrine, but rather the solemn declaration of a truth long held and believed by the Church. It was a formal articulation of a consistent tradition, confirming what the faithful had held to be true for centuries. This dogmatic definition served to strengthen the faith of the Catholic people and to highlight the profound significance of Mary's role in God's plan of salvation, offering a clear and authoritative statement for all generations.
Attending Mass as it is a Holy Day of Obligation, emphasizing the importance of the feast in the liturgical calendar.
The Assumption is a solemnity and a principal feast day, requiring the faithful to attend Mass.
Celebrating 'Ferragosto,' a national holiday often marked by family gatherings, feasts, and often pilgrimages or religious processions.
Ferragosto is an ancient Roman festival that was Christianized and aligned with the Feast of the Assumption, becoming a major summer holiday.
Blessing of herbs, flowers, and grains, often referred to as 'Matka Boska Zielna' (Our Lady of the Herbs), where people bring bouquets to church to be blessed.
This tradition connects Mary's Assumption with the harvest and the blessing of creation, symbolizing her glory and the fruitfulness associated with her heavenly ascent.
Grand processions, particularly in Marian shrines and parishes, where statues of the Blessed Mother are carried through the streets, often adorned with flowers.
Processions are a traditional way to honor Mary and express devotion to her, particularly on major Marian feasts like the Assumption, reflecting deep cultural reverence.
Pilgrimages to Marian shrines, such as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, or local churches named after the Assumption, often culminating in special Masses or outdoor celebrations.
Pilgrimages serve as a spiritual journey to honor Mary and seek her intercession on her feast day, reflecting devotion to her Assumption into heaven.
Blessing of the sea or other bodies of water, particularly in coastal communities, where boats are decorated and a procession may take place on the water.
This maritime tradition, especially in places like Nice, connects Mary, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris), with the protection of seafarers and the bounty of the ocean, asking for her blessing on her feast day.
Large family gatherings featuring seasonal produce, roasted meats (such as 'pollo con i peperoni' - chicken with peppers in Rome, or 'piccione ripieno' - stuffed pigeon in Umbria), and traditional regional dishes, often enjoyed outdoors or at home.
The national holiday of Ferragosto coincides with the Feast of the Assumption, making it a day for widespread celebration and feasting following religious observances.
On 'Matka Boska Zielna' (Our Lady of the Herbs), bouquets of herbs, flowers, and grains are blessed in church. These blessed items are then brought home and often used in cooking, teas, or for medicinal purposes throughout the year, symbolizing God's blessing on the harvest.
The tradition connects Mary's Assumption with the bounty of the earth and the harvest, with the blessed items imparting a sacred quality to food and remedies.
A sweet pastry tart filled with ripe mirabelle plums, which are in season around mid-August. Other seasonal fruit tarts may also be prepared.
The Assumption falls in late summer, coinciding with the peak harvest of various fruits, making fruit tarts a popular and seasonal festive dessert.
A whole roasted pig (lechon) is a centerpiece of many Filipino celebrations, along with pancit (noodles for long life), lumpia, and other traditional dishes prepared for large family gatherings.
The Assumption is a major Catholic feast day in the Philippines, prompting elaborate family feasts and celebrations to honor the Blessed Mother.