Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

by Fr. Don Kline, V.F.  |  08/10/2025  |  Letter from the Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Have you heard that the older one gets, the faster time flies. I don’t know if that is scientifically verifiable, but it seems to ring true in my life. Where does the time go? Sometimes in the craziness of life, we can forget to pray. I want to remind you that next Friday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Every Solemnity is a holy day of obligation which means Catholics are obligated to attend either the Vigil Mass on Thursday (the evening before) or one of the three Masses offered on August 15th. We will have Mass at 5:00 p.m. on the 14th. On the 15th, the schedule is the following: 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. in English.

What is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary? You can trace the origins of the Solemnity to Pope Pius XII who proclaimed the dogma on November 1, 1950, in the Constitution Munificentissimus Deus. First things first. What does the word “dogma” mean for us as Catholics? Dogma in the Catholic Church is a truth that has been infallibly defined by the Church’s Magisterium to be divinely revealed. When the Church declares something as a dogma, that means what is declared or proclaimed as dogma is something we hold as a great value and significant for our faith as Christians. This is what Pope Pius XII proclaimed as dogma: “…with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul and with our own, we pronounce, declare and define to be divinely revealed dogma that The Immaculate Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven.”

In the Assumption of Mary into heaven, we believe that Mary was taken up into heaven not only spiritually but also physically. Our resurrection of the body will occur at the end of the world, but this unique privilege was granted to Mary at the end of her time on earth. In a sense, Mary participates in her Son's Resurrection in anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians. Where Mary has gone, we hope to go.

The Assumption is closely linked to Mary's Immaculate Conception and her role as the Mother of the Divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences. Because Mary never sinned, she does not suffer the consequences of sin like we do. Christ's Resurrection and Ascension into heaven was the final evidence of His victory over sin and death. Mary's Assumption signifies her complete victory over these consequences and that is why she is preserved from the corruption of the tomb. The Assumption of Mary serves as a sign of sure hope and consolation for all Christians, offering a glimpse of the destiny that awaits those who die in God's grace. It is an image of our own resurrection.

As summer ends, I hope you had time to rest and make some good memories with family and friends. Rest and recharging the mind and body, can help the soul to be filled up with the things of God so that we don’t forget that God is at the beginning, middle and end of everything. Maybe you have struggled with practicing the faith this summer. Maybe you stopped praying or even going to Mass. It can be easy to fall into the snare of the enemy who desires for everyone to confuse rest with doing nothing. Rest is important but so are body and soul. If you desire to work, go to school, be there for your family and others, you need to rest. Jesus also rested with the apostles and took them to a secluded place to regain strength to continue preaching and performing miracles. You and I can’t give if we are running on empty. Rest for the mind and body is essential. But prayer is essential too. Prayer fuels the soul. Come and be filled with the goodness of God. See you in Holy Mass.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline