The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patronal Feast of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

National Back to School Month

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 61:1-5 The Reception of Visiting Monks

Mass: Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Resp Ps 45; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56

MARY, MOTHER OF CITEAUX,

PRAY FOR US.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

(Lk 1:46-47)

It is on days like this, the glorious Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Patronal Feast of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, that I turn to our Catechism of the Catholic Church. We find this in paragraph 966, a magnificent text:

Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:

In giving birth, you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.

And this from Pope Benedict XVI:

Mary is blessed because-totally, in body and soul and forever-she became the Lord's dwelling place. If this is true, Mary does not merely invite our admiration and veneration, but she guides us, shows us the way of life, shows us how we can become blessed, how to find the path of happiness.

(Pope Benedict XVI, Solemnity of the Assumption, homily, August 15, 2006)

With Mary as our guide then, why not pray with the Litany of Mary today. Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

MARY, ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN,

MARY, GATE OF HEAVEN,

MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN,

JOSEPH, PROTECTOR OF THE HOLY CHURCH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: From the website of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, www.ocso.org. All Cistercian monasteries are dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. 

© Gertrude Feick 2021