As the month of August draws near, the one date that comes to mind is the 15th of August, which evokes two titles – “Mother India” for Independence Day, and ‘Mother Mary’ for Assumption Day.

With simple faith I believe in the Assumption of Mother Mary, body and soul into heaven, because it is the Dogma of the Church. And also because Mother Mary’s apparitions have always been of a beautiful lady, speaking to children in their own language, instead of a misty figure in the sky.

Since I am not qualified to write on the Assumption of Mother Mary with authority, I did a search on YouTube and came across the following, easy to understand, explanation, which I hope helps you. 

It says that Mary had the most unique relationship with God in history. She is the Daughter of God the father; the Mother of God the son; and the spouse of the Holy Spirit. She was the first disciple in the Church to welcome Jesus in her life. She always remained close to her Son, throughout His life; His suffering, Death and Resurrection. It is no surprise then that Jesus who loved His Mother so dearly, chose to take her body and soul to heaven, at the end of her earthly life, to share in His Glory and live as a Royal Citizen – a Queen – in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today we have relics and tombs of the Apostles and bones of many early saints; Yet no church claims to have the body of Mother Mary because it isn’t on earth. To honour our Mother, the Church has marked the Christian calendar with celebrations that recall the great works God has done for and through Mary.

The Feast of the Assumption is basically the Church’s celebration of Mary’s heavenly birthday. In 1950, Pope Pius XII infallibly professed as follows: –

“We pronounce, declare and define it to be

a divinely revealed Dogma that the

Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary

having completed the course of her earthly life

was assumed, body and soul to heavenly glory”.

This teaching is based on the lack of relics, her empty tomb and ancient celebrations of the Feast Day in all Churches.

Pope Pius XII made it clear that Mary’s assumption was not to be confused with the ascension of Jesus. To ‘Ascend’ is something only God can do with his own Divine Power. To be ‘Assumed’ is to be taken up by God’s Power. The Pope’s definition is “…. she was assumed, body and soul, to heavenly glory.”

The Church commemorates the Assumption as the 4th Glorious Mystery, followed by the 5th Glorious Mystery of Mary’s crowning as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Mary’s Assumption is connected to the fact that she is the New Ark of covenant, who was sanctified to carry the Word of God in the flesh. The old Ark carried the Word of God in stone (i.e the ten commandments) and no unsanctified man could touch it.

In the Book of Revelations chapter 11:19, St. John sees the Old Ark in heaven but immediately (ch. 12:1) this image transforms into the figure of a pregnant woman with a crown of twelve stars. She is clothed with the Sun and stands on the Moon – both heavenly symbols – and she escapes the devil in the form of a dragon, to be taken by God to a place where she will dwell in peace. The early church saw the woman as a symbol of Mary, the New Queen Mother of new Israel, who was taken into heaven. The Ark was a physical Holy Vessel, which carried the presence of God. St. John sees both the Old Ark and the New Ark physically in heaven. Psalm 132:8 foreshadowed the fact that Christ and Mary are in heaven in the words: “Arise O Lord, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of Your might.”

Mary is the New Eve, who like the Old Eve was preserved by God’s Grace from Original sin. Unlike the Old Eve, Mary always remained obedient to the Will of God; and therefore being sinless did not undergo the effects of death as a consequence of sin. Jesus and Mary are the two exceptions to the Scripture which says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” The fact that Mary was so closely united to Jesus her Son, shows us the inseparable bond they shared on earth; a bond that continues into eternity. What God accomplished for Mary, will be done for all the faithful. MARY IS THE BEST IMAGE OF THE DESTINY OF THE CHURCH!!

On Independence Day let us call on Mary to be the Mother of India, and protect us from all untoward and unforeseen circumstances.

J. Rodrigues