The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is on 15th August. Venerable Pope Pius XII confirmed this belief about the Virgin Mary as the perennial teaching of the Church when he defined it formally as a dogma of Catholic faith in 1950, invoking papal infallibility to proclaim, “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.” Mid-August was chosen as the date, both Christians from the East and West have always celebrated Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Where exactly did the Assumption take place? It’s probably in Ephesus as the bible mentioned that when Mary was leaving, the apostles returned from different places to witness her departure.
According to Luke 1:39: “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, she entered the house of Zechari’ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb.” Mary was in a hurry to meet Elizabeth, she knew that she was carrying Jesus in her womb and wanted to bring Him to others. Mary was closely connected with Jesus throughout her life — from His birth, to the fleeing from calamity, the 30 years of upbringing etc., they had always lived in the same way as the Jews did at that time. Before Jesus’ death, He assigned the Church to Mary, and entrusted the apostles with the care of Mary. This was the new commandment. Mary had accompanied the apostles all along until Pentecost, thereafter, Mary was not mentioned in the bible any more until the coming of the new heaven and new earth. Mary had always been Jesus’ companion, she never left Him, but fought against the evil with Him. The road that Mary walked through from her visitation to Elizabeth until her assumption to heaven, she had always been with her son (the glorified God). When we struggle through our lives, our final destination is to be with our Father, our way is not easy as it was with Mary’s. Do not be afraid! We have to learn from Mary’s humility and obedience, she kept everything in silence and pondered over it in her heart. Eventually, we shall meet our Father in His place. We shall win against darkness at the end of the world!
The Pope indicated that the conversion of those who believe is necessary in today’s church. We need to devote our whole life and place it as the central axis so that all our work should be connected to Mary and Jesus. Mary’s path is our path. We need to learn her obedience and follow Mary. Please reflect: How can we comply with God’s plans; through Mary, how can we pursue the road of salvation in this complicated world?
Spiritual Director
Fr. Francis Tam
20 August 2023