In the Catholic tradition, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary marks the end of the Blessed Mother’s earthly life as her body and soul become a holy whole in the presence of God in Heaven.
Each year on the fifteenth day of August, Catholics celebrate the Assumption of Mary through grand feasts and prayer, both to celebrate the Blessed Virgin’s entrance into the kingdom of God and praise God for his guiding light and boundless mercy.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Catholic Tradition
For Catholics across the globe, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary emphasizes our belief that true physical elevation of the sinless soul into Heaven awaits the followers of Jesus at the end of our days on this earth.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary also represents the stripping away of bodily corruption and earthly sin, highlighting a divine transition from one realm to the ultimate goal: the everlasting kingdom of Heaven.
In the Catholic faith, the role of Mary in the life of Christ is central—inseparable. In celebration of the very first and most significant disciple of Jesus, Catholics honor the Blessed Mother in many ways, celebrating her love and sacrifice that provided Christ with his earthly body in order to save mankind.
If you haven’t honored this holy day of obligation with your family in years past, one of the simplest ways to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is to pray the rosary. If your children were raised in the Catholic tradition, practice worship by celebrating Mary with a simple, easy prayer:
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Growing in Catholic Faith Through Celebration
As Catholics, one of the most significant ways in which we grow within our Christian faith and love for Jesus is to celebrate holy days of obligation. By striving to revel in every moment of peace and joy, our understanding of the mysteries of God become clearer as we become closer to our faith and fellow Christians.