Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Assumption of the Virgin (1670)
A great Marian solemnity arrives this week: The Assumption of Our Lady. While this is a relatively new dogma of the Church—only 67 years old—the feast has been celebrated since the 9th century. Every opportunity to honor Mary is an occasion to rejoice, for she is the best the human race has to offer to God, and the best that God has to offer to us.
The Assumption in particular highlights Mary as the sinless, spotless Virgin who was preserved from earthly decay. In her, nothing was incompatible with heaven, so much so that she entered its fullness with all of her fullness. Having become the most pure Mother of God, she became the abode of heaven itself.
We pray the words of the Magnificat with Our Lady in a special way today: “The Almighty has done great things for me; holy is his name.” As we praise God for all the all of the great things the Lord has done in Mary, we ask also that the Lord will complete his great and glorious will in us!
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