Letter from the Pastor
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August 13, 2023This Tuesday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady, body and soul into Heaven. It is a Holy Day of Obligation; all Catholics must attend Mass that day, or the vigil Monday evening.
The Church believes that Mary’s body was not subjected to decay because of her Immaculate Conception, and her unique role as the sinless Mother of God. “Rightly you would not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvelously brought forth Your Incarnate Son, the Author of all life.” (Preface of the Mass)
The Church consistently believed in Mary’s Assumption since the time of the Apostles. Then on November1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be an infallible dogma of faith. “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.”
Mary’s assumption reminds us of our own final destiny. There is more to our life then just earth. Every Sunday we profess a belief in the resurrection of the dead and this resurrection involves both the body and the soul. The human person consists of a soul and a body; Christ redeemed both. Our Blessed Lady is now, what we will one day be.
However, unlike Mary, our bodies will remain on earth until the “last day” when our body and soul are reunited. The eventual resurrection of our body points to the truth that we must treat them as holy gifts from God. “In expectation of that day, the believer’s body and soul already participate in the dignity of belonging to Christ. This dignity entails the demand that he should treat with respect his own body, but also the body of every other person, especially the suffering” (CCC #1004).
To be human is to live in relation to another; we are social beings. This is one of the first things the Bible teaches about humanity. Adam was placed in paradise, the Garden of Eden. He lacked for nothing, including the company of fellow creatures, yet it was ‘not good’ for him to be ‘alone.’ So God created Eve. Christ, who is true God and true Man, ‘needs’ in His humanity the perfect companionship of another human. Christ is not a solitary savior. In His divinity He enjoys the communion of the Blessed Trinity. In His humanity He reigns from heaven with his Mother, the Queen of both Heaven and Earth.
The only proper response from us on this day is to come and worship God who gave to us His Son who in turn gave to us His Blessed Mother.Happy Feast of the Assumption.
Pious custom of going to the SeaWhen we were kids, we “took the waters for the cure” on Aug. 15. According to pious legend, as the Blessed Virgin rose to heaven on this day, she wept and her tears fell into the sea. The belief is that every year on this day, Mary’s tears reactivate, bringing good health to those who bathe in the ocean. It was an Irish custom as many a Catholic in Ireland and in Irish-settled neighborhoods of the U.S. took to the waters looking for the cure. Especially crowded were the beaches around New York City and along the Jersey Shore. So if you’re near the sea, jump in or at least wet your toes!
Saint Margaret of Antioch Masses
Monday, August 14th: 7 PM
Tuesday, August 15th: 7 AM, 9 AM, 12 PM & 7 PM
