Every year on August 15 the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven. This dogma states that, “the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” What this means is that, unlike the rest of humanity who will have to wait until the end of time for their souls to be reunited with their bodies, God did not make Mary wait. At the end of her earthly life, God took her into heaven both body and soul.
The Assumption of Mary is a dogma (or divinely revealed teaching) of the Catholic faith and the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that dogmas are “lights along the path of faith; they illuminate [our path] and make it secure.” (CCC 89) In other words, the teaching of the Assumption is meant to help us on our own journey of belief.
The Assumption of Mary reminds us not to forget the bigger picture, that there is more to the story than what we see here on earth. It reminds us to stay the course, to live a life of prayer and virtue, and to keep close to God so that we too may one day enjoy the glory of heaven both body and soul for all eternity.
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