From the Deacon’s Desk 08/15/2021

Dear Friends:

Today we celebrate a special feast, the Assumption of Mary into heaven.  This feast occurs in the Roman calendar on August 15th.  As the Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a holy day of obligation and this year falls on Sunday, we celebrate Mary’s Assumption today.  The Feast of the Assumption of Mary occurs on Sunday about every 11 years. This feast       commemorates the dogma of faith that Mary was taken up to heaven soul and body after her earthly life was over.  This dogma is based mainly on tradition, her sinlessness, her virginity, and the fact that she is the mother of Jesus.  The Feast of the Assumption allows us to give special devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother. Mary’s motherhood shows us the way to heaven through her son. We too are temples of the Holy Spirit and Mary’s entrance into heaven is a precursor to our own entry into heaven one day.

The readings today all talk about Mary.  The Book of Revelation talks about how Mary labored to give birth to Jesus.  It also talks about how the devil, described as a dragon, tried to destroy Jesus.  As we know he was unsuccessful.  The last line of the reading says it all, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have salvation and power come….’”  Mary in this reading triumphs over Satan himself and delivers to us our savior, Jesus Christ.

Today would be a wonderful day to just spend five or ten minutes thinking about Mary, a young girl who agreed to be the mother of our savior.  Her courage and steadfast faith provided a place for us in heaven for all eternity.  It would be worth a little time   today, and perhaps every day, to think about the gift Mary made possible for us as she reigns as our queen and the queen of heaven.

Peace and All Good!

Deacon Jim