Solemnity of the Assumption—August 15
“Our Lady, Mary,” Pope Francis recently remarked, “is more important than the apostles, bishops, priests, or deacons.’’
The pope made the comment while he was talking with reporters during his flight from Brazil to Rome. The context was a discussion of the role of women in the Church.
The idea that Mary is more important than the apostles, to say nothing of us deacons, is not new; but Pope Francis often states a church teaching so succinctly—so bluntly, one might say—that it strikes us with more force, with greater clarity than ever before.
Of course, the pope wasn’t demeaning the apostles with that observation; rather, he was emphasizing that Mary was the first disciple of her son, Jesus. She was a disciple who without hesitation accepted God’s will in her life, accepted separation and worry because of Jesus’ public life, endured the pain of witnessing his death, and remained in the midst of his followers during the uncertain and dangerous days following his resurrection.
The woman who did all this shared our human nature, but, by God’s grace, she was unique in ways that the Church describes as the mysteries of the Immaculate Conception, the Virgin Birth, and the Assumption—the last of which we will celebrate on August 15.
The mystery of the Immaculate Conception refers to the fact that Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb without original sin. We human beings inherited the mark of the first sin against God, which the Book of Genesis expresses with the story of Adam and Eve and their encounter with the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
We are cleansed of that mark when we receive the sacrament of baptism.
But Mary, who was to be the mother of God, did not bear the mark of that sin when she was conceived in her own mother’s womb.
This doctrine, the Immaculate Conception, was proclaimed by Pope Alexander VII in 1661, although it had been celebrated much earlier, and it was defined as a dogmatic teaching of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1854.
The second mystery, the Virgin Birth, refers to the fact that Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the action of the Holy Spirit, not by man.
The mystery of the Assumption, which we celebrate this month, refers to the fact that Mary was taken into the presence of God, body and soul, at the end of her life on earth.
Catholics had believed this since at least the third or fourth century. Finally, Pope Pius XII asked the advice of all the bishops in the world and, based on their responses, defined it as dogma in 1950.
In doing so, the pope left open a question that had been debated for centuries, namely whether Mary ever died a natural death or whether she was taken living into heaven.
Either way, the pope wrote that it seemed impossible to think of Mary, “the one who conceived Christ, brought him forth, nursed him with her milk, held him in her arms, and clasped him to her breast, as being apart from him in body, even though not in soul, after this earthly life. Since our Redeemer is the Son of Mary, he could not do otherwise, as the perfect observer of God's law, than to honor, not only his eternal Father, but also his most beloved Mother. And, since it was within his power to grant her this great honor, to preserve her from the corruption of the tomb, we must believe that he really acted in this way’’ (Munficentissimus Deus, 38).
Charles Paolino is a member of the RENEW staff and a permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Metuchen.
Subscribe
Topics
- RENEW International (236)
- Sharon Krause (188)
- Reflections on the coming Sunday's Gospel (91)
- Jesus Christ (63)
- prayer (61)
- Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres (42)
- Bill Ayres (40)
- catholic program renew (33)
- prayer life (31)
- Lent (26)
- catholic renew progam (24)
- renew catholic program (22)
- Advent (19)
- Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (19)
- Christmas (17)
- God's love (17)
- catholic RENEW program (17)
- a reflection on the coming Sunday's Gospel (15)
- The Everyday Gospel: Deacon Charles Paolino (13)
- COVID (12)
- Lenten season (12)
- gratitude (12)
- pandemic (12)
- Holy Spirit (11)
- John the Baptist (11)
- Sunday readings (10)
- Good News (9)
- everyday prayer (9)
- Gratitude to God (8)
- Scripture (8)
- daily prayer (8)
- forgiveness (8)
- Gospel According to Matthew (7)
- Jesus Christ the King (7)
- resurrection (7)
- Catholic social teaching (6)
- God's gifts (6)
- The Resurrection of the Lord (6)
- justice (6)
- praying (6)
- renewing our faith (6)
- spiritual life (6)
- Advent prayer (5)
- Dignity and the Death Penalty (5)
- Easter (5)
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit (5)
- Marian devotion (5)
- Palm Sunday (5)
- RENEW prayers (5)
- hope (5)
- spontaneous prayer (5)
- trust in God (5)
- virus (5)
- Advent journey (4)
- Book of the Prophet Isaiah (4)
- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- Fifth Sunday of Lent (4)
- First Sunday of Advent (4)
- Fourth Sunday in Lent (4)
- Gospel According to Mark (4)
- Holy Trinity (4)
- New Year (4)
- Ordinary Time (4)
- Psalm 23 (4)
- Second Sunday of Advent (4)
- Second Sunday of Lent (4)
- St. Joseph (4)
- The Good Shepherd (4)
- The Holy Spirit accompanies us (4)
- Third Sunday of Lent (4)
- care for those in poverty (4)
- celebration of the Eucharist (4)
- creation (4)
- death penalty (4)
- first sunday of Lent (4)
- having faith (4)
- mercy (4)
- rosary (4)
- scripture readings (4)
- season of preparation (4)
- suffering servant (4)
- third sunday in ordinary time (4)
- time of anticipation (4)
- Awaken to the Spirit (3)
- Babylonian Exile (3)
- Book of Wisdom (3)
- Christmas season (3)
- Christmas shopping (3)
- Church (3)
- Crucifxion (3)
- Dying to new life (3)
- God's call (3)
- God's forgiveness (3)
- Good Shepherd (3)
- Gospel according to John (3)
- Jesus walks on water (3)
- Lenten journey (3)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (3)
- New Covenant (3)
- Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sunday Mass (3)
- The Ascension (3)
- The Gospel (3)
- beatitudes (3)
- body and blood of Christ (3)
- counting our blessings (3)
- dignity of each person (3)
- disciples (3)
- epiphany (3)
- evangelization (3)
- feast of pentecost (3)
- fourth sunday in ordinary time (3)
- gift of faith (3)
- gifts from God (3)
- give thanks to God (3)
- good deeds (3)
- humility (3)
- joy (3)
- kindness (3)
- open to the Holy Spirit (3)
- patience (3)
- personal reflection (3)
- pray (3)
- pray for peace (3)
- priorities (3)
- recreate yourself this New Year (3)
- repentance (3)
- say yes to God's will (3)
- sharing our gifts (3)
- sins (3)
- thanksgiving (3)
- welcome (3)
- 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Abba (2)
- Annunciation (2)
- Assumption of Mary (2)
- Bible (2)
- Christ the King (2)
- Christian discipleship (2)
- Easter Season (2)
- Easter joy (2)
- Easter season of rebirth (2)
- Emmanuel (2)
- Eucharist (2)
- Feast of the Holy Family (2)
- Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2)
- Feeding the hungry (2)
- Fifth Sunday of Easter (2)
- God is love (2)
- God who loves you (2)
- God with us (2)
- God's blessings (2)
- God's mercy (2)
- God's presence (2)
- Gospel according to Luke (2)
- Holy Communion (2)
- Jesus (2)
- Jesus as teacher (2)
- Jesus healing (2)
- Love your neighbor as yourself (2)
- Magnificat (2)
- Mary (2)
- Mary and Joseph (2)
- Mary's House (2)
- Nativity of the Lord (2)
- Questions and Answers (2)
- Rely on Jesus (2)
- Seventh Sunday of Easter (2)
- Sign of the Cross (2)
- Sixth Sunday of Easter (2)
- Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (2)
- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (2)
- Spirit of love (2)
- St John the Baptist (2)
- Suffering Messiah (2)
- The Rosary (2)
- Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Virgin Mary (2)
- You shall love the Lord your God (2)
- attitude of gratitude (2)
- authority of Jesus (2)
- baptism (2)
- birth of our Savior (2)
- bread of life (2)
- centering prayer (2)
- covid-19 (2)
- crèche (2)
- decorations (2)
- divinity of Jesus (2)
- doubting Thomas (2)
- eternal life (2)
- every knee shall bend (2)
- faith in Jesus (2)
- faithful (2)
- fourth sunday of advent (2)
- good works (2)
- gratefulness (2)
- greatest commandment (2)
- growing in faith (2)
- holding grudges (2)
- holiness (2)
- holy spirit at work (2)
- hope in God (2)
- hope in the Lord (2)
- inclusion (2)
- insight (2)
- kingdom of God (2)
- listening to God (2)
- love of neighbor (2)
- magi (2)
- meditation (2)
- mental incompetence (2)
- mission (2)
- optimism (2)
- parables (2)
- peace (2)
- penance (2)
- praise God (2)
- prayer of thanksgiving (2)
- prayers of gratitude (2)
- prepare for Christmas (2)
- raising of Lazarus (2)
- reconciliation (2)
- repent and believe in the gospel (2)
- resurrection in our lives (2)
- road to Emmaus (2)
- sabbath (2)
- savior (2)
- saying grace (2)
- second coming of Christ (2)
- second sunday in ordinary time (2)
- servant leadership (2)
- share your faith (2)
- small faith sharing groups (2)
- social justice (2)
- solemnity of the most holy body and blood of chris (2)
- something new (2)
- spend time with God (2)
- spirit of the lord (2)
- spiritual grouth (2)
- spiritual renewal (2)
- spirituality (2)
- spreading good news (2)
- temptation (2)
- thanking God (2)
- the examined life (2)
- third sunday of advent (2)
- thoughtfulness (2)
- trust in the Lord (2)
- use your gifts (2)
- vineyard of the Lord (2)
- wedding garment (2)
- wisdom (2)
- woman at the well (2)
- words (2)
- 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 2021 (1)
- 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 3rd Sunday of Advent (1)
- 4th Sunday of Advent (1)
- Acts of love (1)
- Adam and Eve (1)
- Advent Wreath (1)
- Advent calendar (1)
- Apostle Andrew (1)
- Ascension (1)
- Ash Wednesday (1)
- Autumn (1)
- Awake (1)
- Baptism of Our Lord (1)
- Baptism of the Lord (1)
- Be awake (1)
- Be still (1)
- Be watchful (1)
- Behold (1)
- Benedictine nun (1)
- Birth of John the Baptist (1)
- Blessed Mother (1)
- Blessed Trinity (1)
- Blessed Virgin Mary (1)
- Body of Christ (1)
- Book of Judges (1)
- Book of Kings (1)
- Book of Proverbs (1)
- Book of the Prophet Amos (1)
- Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Catechism (1)
- Catholic (1)
- Catholic Faith (1)
- Catholic education (1)
- Charity (1)
- Charles Paolino (1)
- Children's Easter story (1)
- Christ child (1)
- Christ's love (1)
- Christian unity (1)
- Christian witness (1)
- Christmas Day (1)
- Christmas Star (1)
- Christmas carols (1)
- Christmas pageant (1)
- Covenant with Israel (1)
- Creation at the Crossroads (1)
- Creator God (1)
- Diocese of Brooklyn (1)
- Divine Office (1)
- Easter Sunday (1)
- Elijah (1)
- Father Son and Holy Spirit (1)
- Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (1)
- First Book of Samuel (1)
- First Commandment (1)
- First letter of Saint John (1)
- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Fourth Sunday of Easter (1)
- Genesis (1)
- Gentiles (1)
- God forgives (1)
- God full of love (1)
- God is our help (1)
- God is with us (1)
- God works in mysterious ways (1)
- God's generosity (1)
- God's guidance (1)
- God's healing (1)
- God's plan (1)
- God's unconditional love for all (1)
- God's voice (1)
- Gospel of John (1)
- Gospel of Mark (1)
- Hail Holy Queen (1)
- Haitian Creole (1)
- Holy Eucharist (1)
- Holy Week (1)
- HolySpirit (1)
- I am the light of the world (1)
- Immaculate Conception (1)
- In God We Trust (1)
- In the beginning was the Word (1)
- Inspired by the Holy Spirit (1)
- Jesus Christ is born (1)
- Jesus as high priest (1)
- Jesus feeds the multitude (1)
- Jesus forgives (1)
- Jesus heals (1)
- Jesus loves us (1)
- Jesus' call (1)
- Jesus' love (1)
- Jesus’ Resurrection (1)
- Jews (1)
- Jonah (1)
- Joseph Mohr (1)
- Last Supper (1)
- Laudato Si" (1)
- Laura DePalma (1)
- Lent prayer (1)
- Lenticular printing (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (1)
- Letter to the Hebrews (1)
- Marian Prayer (1)
- Martha and Mary (1)
- Mary Magdalene (1)
- Mary mother of God (1)
- Mary's intercession (1)
- Matthew 25 Christians (1)
- Meaning of Christmas (1)
- Meet Mary in Prayer (1)
- Messiah (1)
- Moses (1)
- Nativity (1)
- Nativity scene (1)
- Natvity set (1)
- Nearness of God (1)
- Noah (1)
- Oh My God (1)
- Passion of Our Lord (1)
- Pentecost (1)
- Poor Richard's Almanac (1)
- Power of the Holy Spirit (1)
- Prediction of the Passion (1)
- Prepare (1)
- Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Prophet Jeremiah (1)
- Psalm 100 (1)
- Psalm 138 (1)
- Psalm 139 (1)
- Psalm 146 (1)
- Psalm 24 (1)
- Psalm 34 (1)
- Psalm 63 (1)
- Psalm 80 (1)
- Psalm 85 (1)
- Rejoice and Be Glad (1)
- Sadducees (1)
- Saint Blaise (1)
- Saint Jerome Emiliani (1)
- Saint Peter (1)
- Savior of the world (1)
- Scriptures (1)
- Second Letter of St. Peter (1)
- Second Sunday of Easter (1)
- Silent Night (1)
- Sleeplessness (1)
- Small-Group Ministry (1)
- Solemnity of All Saints (1)
- Son of God (1)
- Special Rosaries (1)
- Sr. Helen Prejean (1)
- St. Callistus I (1)
- St. Damien (1)
- St. Gertrude (1)
- St. Hippolytus (1)
- St. Therese of Lisieux (1)
- St. Thomas (1)
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1)
- St. patrick (1)
- Star of Bethlehem (1)
- Sunday (1)
- Sunday Gospel (1)
- Sunday Matters (1)
- Temptation of Christ (1)
- Thanksgiving parade (1)
- The Apostles (1)
- The Boy Jesus (1)
- The Gift of Faith (1)
- The Lord is my rock (1)
- The Lord's Day (1)
- The Lord's Prayer (1)
- The Memorare (1)
- The Passion of the Lord (1)
- The Prophet Job (1)
- The Word became flesh (1)
- The golden rule (1)
- The holy name (1)
- The kingdom of God is at hand (1)
- The risen Jesus (1)
- Third Sunday of Easter (1)
- Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- War in Ukraine (1)
- Wedding Feast (1)
- What would Jesus do (1)
- Word of God (1)
- Zacchaeus (1)
- Zaccheus (1)
- Zoom (1)
- abundant life (1)
- acceptance (1)
- accessible (1)
- adoration (1)
- agapé (1)
- angels (1)
- anxiety (1)
- apostle Peter (1)
- applying Scripture to your life (1)
- appreciation (1)
- ark (1)
- artist creator (1)
- attentiveness (1)
- authentic discipleship (1)
- autumn leaves (1)
- autumn prayer (1)
- awareness (1)
- baby Jesus (1)
- be less judgmental (1)
- being a disciple (1)
- being positive (1)
- bible study (1)
- blessed (1)
- blessing of throats (1)
- bread from heaven (1)
- call to discipleship (1)
- called to follow (1)
- campaign (1)
- census tax (1)
- choices (1)
- close encounter (1)
- clothe the naked (1)
- comfort and joy (1)
- comfort the sick (1)
- communion of saints (1)
- compassion (1)
- confession (1)
- confirmation sponsor (1)
- connecting faith and life (1)
- courage (1)
- crib (1)
- crucifixion (1)
- despair (1)
- devotion to Saints (1)
- disciples of Jesus (1)
- discipleship (1)
- distractions from prayer (1)
- divine help (1)
- divine intervention (1)
- divine mercy (1)
- divine providence (1)
- divorce (1)
- do not be afraid (1)
- driving responsibly (1)
- election (1)
- encounter Jesus (1)
- end of liturgical year (1)
- epiphany of the Lord (1)
- evangelize by witness (1)
- examining conscience (1)
- experience god's presence (1)
- faith sharing group (1)
- false prophets (1)
- fasting (1)
- fear not (1)
- feast of unity (1)
- feed the hungry (1)
- first letter of saint paul to the corinthians (1)
- fog (1)
- follow Jesus (1)
- follow the gospel (1)
- following the way of the cross (1)
- generosity (1)
- gift of God (1)
- gift wrapping (1)
- give glory (1)
- glory (1)
- glory to god (1)
- go in peace (1)
- godparents (1)
- good Samaritan (1)
- good christian lives (1)
- good will (1)
- gospel challenges (1)
- greatest gift (1)
- growing in love (1)
- hallowed be thy name (1)
- handy (1)
- healing of the blind man (1)
- hearts and minds (1)
- his people on earth (1)
- holiday (1)
- hope and promise (1)
- house of the Lord (1)
- human dignity (1)
- humanity and divinity of Christ (1)
- humble life (1)
- imitating Jesus (1)
- inner peace (1)
- insomnia (1)
- intercessory prayer (1)
- interior life (1)
- intimacy with Christ (1)
- introspection (1)
- invitation (1)
- joy and wonder of the resurrection (1)
- lamb of God (1)
- least of them (1)
- life in christ (1)
- like a thief at night (1)
- love of God (1)
- love of self (1)
- love one another (1)
- love one another as I love you (1)
- love your neighbor (1)
- lullaby (1)
- magician (1)
- magnificence of God's love (1)
- man born blind (1)
- marriage (1)
- maturing in faith (1)
- meek and humble of heart (1)
- mental health (1)
- messages (1)
- messengers of God's love (1)
- mind and body (1)
- minister with humility (1)
- multiplication of the loaves and fishes (1)
- need prayer and reflection (1)
- new beginnings (1)
- new perspectives (1)
- night prayer (1)
- nourishing the soul (1)
- online community (1)
- online small groups (1)
- openness (1)
- pandemic lessons (1)
- parable (1)
- parable of the 10 virgins (1)
- parable of the hidden treasure (1)
- parable of the pearl (1)
- parable of the talents (1)
- parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (1)
- parable of the two sons (1)
- parable of the wicked tenants (1)
- peace be with you (1)
- peace of mind (1)
- persecution (1)
- persist in prayer (1)
- pillar of cloud (1)
- power of the Spirit (1)
- pray together (1)
- prayer of gratitude (1)
- praying with a psalm (1)
- prepare for Easter (1)
- prepare the way of the Lord (1)
- problem solving (1)
- procrastination (1)
- promise of new life (1)
- prostitutes (1)
- psalm 131 (1)
- psalms (1)
- reach out to others in mercy and love (1)
- real presence of Christ (1)
- rebrand (1)
- receive the Holy Spirit (1)
- reflect on God's presence (1)
- reflection (1)
- rejoice (1)
- remembering (1)
- render unto caesar (1)
- renew our faith (1)
- respond "yes" to God's call (1)
- respond to the call (1)
- restraint (1)
- retreat (1)
- rote learning (1)
- sacrament of baptism (1)
- sacrament of reconciliation (1)
- salt of the earth (1)
- salvation is through Jesus (1)
- seek the Lord (1)
- self control (1)
- self-awareness (1)
- self-sacrifice (1)
- sense of hope (1)
- serenity (1)
- service (1)
- serving others (1)
- seventy seven times (1)
- share love of Christ (1)
- sharing your faith (1)
- silence (1)
- silent prayer (1)
- sinfulness (1)
- sins of the world (1)
- sleep (1)
- slogans (1)
- slow down (1)
- social distancing (1)
- solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (1)
- son of Mary (1)
- spend time with Jesus (1)
- spiritual reading (1)
- spread the Gospel (1)
- starting fresh (1)
- stations (1)
- status of women (1)
- stay awake (1)
- stress (1)
- suffering (1)
- take time to pray (1)
- talents (1)
- tax collectors (1)
- teaching children about God (1)
- the common good (1)
- the elect (1)
- the just one (1)
- the miraculous catch of fish (1)
- the people's prayer book (1)
- the prophet Jonah (1)
- the stone the builders rejected (1)
- thinking (1)
- thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (1)
- three kings (1)
- three meditations (1)
- to serve God (1)
- transfiguration (1)
- transfiguration of the Lord (1)
- treasure the faith (1)
- treatment of women (1)
- trimmings (1)
- true wisdom (1)
- trust in God's mercy (1)
- universal Church (1)
- unlocking our potential (1)
- use time well (1)
- using your talents to serve god (1)
- virtual (1)
- voice crying out in the desert (1)
- we remember (1)
- wedding feast at Cana (1)
- welcome the stranger (1)
- whatever you did for the least of brothers of mine (1)
- when the saints go marching in (1)
- widow's mite (1)
- widows and orphans (1)
- wild turkeys (1)
- witness (1)
- witness to matrimony (1)
- witness to the baptism (1)
- woman found in adultery (1)
- women in the Church (1)
- wonder of creation (1)
- workers in the vineyard (1)
- worry closet (1)
- worthy wife (1)
Share a Comment