Basilica of Saint Mary Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - The Basilica of Saint Mary | Creator: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The feast celebrates the taking up of the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven upon her death. Pope Benedict XIV declared that it was a probable opinion, impious to deny, though not an article of faith, that the Assumption was true.
One 1 November 1950, Pope Pius XII defined it as dogma in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. The origin of the feast day is not known but it was celebrated in Palestine before the year 500.
It is a holy day of obligation, its vigil being a fast day, in all English-speaking countries except Canada. In the US, the Assumption falls on a Monday and according to the USCCB it is not a holy day of obligation. Even so, I will have a mass at 5:30 pm at St Joseph. Among the many masters who have painted the subject of the Assumption are Fra Angelico, Ghirlandajo, Rubens, Del Sarto, and Titian.
Congratulations to Rodney Knight, our newly ordained permanent deacon for our Four Parishes/One Faith cluster. Next weekend will be Deacon Rod’s first homilies at the 4:30 and 9:00 masses.
Please continue to pray for more diaconate vocations. These men are members of the clergy and have an important role to fulfill in the mission of the Church.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen