“And a great sign appeared in heaven: 

a woman clothed with the sun”

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This feast commemorates our Catholic belief that Mary, at death, did not experience physical decay in her body, but was taken directly to heaven.  However, this event is not contained in the Bible.

It should be noted that though Catholics treasure the Bible, and though the Mass is two equal liturgies of Word and Eucharist, the Bible is not the starting point of our doctrine.  Catholic faith has also been formed by “tradition”, the reliable handing on of its truths from one generation to the next.

Catholics celebrated Mass for hundreds of years before the present version of our Bible was formulated in the late fourth century.  Across these years, the oral accounts of witnesses were passed on.

It is clear from early Christian writings as well as what was passed on by word of mouth that the Church has believed in the Assumption from the outset.  The early Church Fathers wrote about it very clearly and identified Mary as “the new Eve.”

Mary was mysteriously prefigured in the Old Testament and her Assumption even hinted at in the New: “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

In the Catholic Church, we have always believed that the Assumption of Mary took place.  The real issue for us is what this means.  In the homily I will be talking about the way that the Mary, Our Mother and Intercessor is leading the way home for us on our journey of faith.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.