Assumption

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken to heaven body and soul at her death.

My mom asked me in the car on the way to Mass this afternoon: "Is that in the Bible?" Well, no, but it doesn't contradict anything in the Bible, either. It's a Tradition handed down to us from the time of the Apostles.

Tradition tells us that after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, Mary lived with the Apostle John. He was exiled to the island of Patmos and she went with him there and died in his home. After her death, her body disappeared.

It makes sense that Our Lord would not allow his mother's body to become corrupted in a tomb. Catholics believe in Mary's Immaculate Conception, that she was conceived in her mother's womb without the stain of original sin. The angel calls her "full of grace" when he comes to ask her on God's behalf to be Jesus' mother. This is one verse from Scripture that Catholics use to "back up" the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (The Immaculate Conception and the Assumption are the only two teachings that any pope has declared to be infallibly true and must be accepted by all Catholics). Since Mary was free from sin her whole life (No orginal sin=no concupiscence or tendency toward sin=no sin), she was not forced to endure bodily corruption. Hers is a glorified body, like those who were faithful to God in their lives on earth will get at the Final Judgment.

So, today, let us ask Mary to pray for us that we may be the sort of follower of her Son that she was. That we may answer every call with a clear "Let it be done to me according to Thy Word."