On August 15 in the Liturgical Calendar of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church we celebrate the great Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most of our Eastern Christian brethren also acknowledge the same great event on this Feast, calling it the Dormition of the Mother of God. Some join us in the celebration today and others, following another ancient Christian calendar, commemorate in just a few days. The Feast is ancient and of profound importance - for reasons which sometimes are not fully understood.

This event is a part of the naturally supernatural progression in the life of the Blessed Virgin of Nazareth. Her Yes, her Fiat of surrendered love, brought heaven to earth. This exercise of her human freedom, responding to the invitation of God, as sent through an angel, to be the Mother of the Lord, forever changed human history. It opened her up to the glory of heaven. That glory not only came to dwell within her, but later received her, body and soul, into heaven.

Mary is thus the sign and promise of the Church's future. She also provides the pattern of the Christian life and vocation. All who say Yes to her beloved Son - and live their lives in that kind of surrendered love - can bear Jesus Christ for the world. They are joined with Mary now and will join with her in the fullness of that communion of love which she now enjoys in eternity.

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