Next Tuesday, on August 15th, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This day is a holy day of obligation (not that anyone pays attention to that concept anymore, alas).
When the Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily assumed into Heaven, do you think St. John watched her rise up through the clouds and exclaimed, “Yeow! Not again!”
After all, John was present when Jesus made a similar exit a few decades earlier. And tradition tells us that it was John who took care of Mary later on, so it’s possible that he witnessed her entrance into Heaven, too.
When the Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily assumed into Heaven, do you think St. John watched her rise up through the clouds and exclaimed, “Yeow! Not again!”
After all, John was present when Jesus made a similar exit a few decades earlier. And tradition tells us that it was John who took care of Mary later on, so it’s possible that he witnessed her entrance into Heaven, too.
There’s a lot we know about Mary from Scripture, and a lot we don’t know. Church tradition fills in the blanks for some of this. For example, regarding the Feast of the Assumption, there is nothing in the Bible that describes Mary being assumed, body and soul, into Heaven when her time on earth was over. But common sense tells us that it not only could’ve happened, but most likely did happen.
The Bible clearly describes two holy people who did not experience natural death, but were miraculously brought straight into Heaven by the power of God: Enoch and Elijah. So, if these special people were given the honor of bypassing death and decay, doesn’t it make sense that God would offer that same honor to the Mother of Our Lord?
Anyway, many Christian denominations do not accept the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary, and that’s OK. This topic is what St. Paul described as a “disputable matter,” that is, not a core Christian doctrine and therefore not something we ought to get all hot and bothered about.
A more important concern is the accusation that Catholics have turned Mary into a goddess, on the same level as God Almighty. Admittedly, some Marian devotions that have developed over the years sure make it seem like people are worshiping Mary. If that is the case, it is theologically wrong, and I hope God doesn’t judge these folks too harshly since their hearts are in the right place.
Anyway, Mary is most definitely the preeminent of all saints, but she is not a deity. The Holy Trinity is perfect the way it is. There’s no need to make it a quartet.
The Bible clearly describes two holy people who did not experience natural death, but were miraculously brought straight into Heaven by the power of God: Enoch and Elijah. So, if these special people were given the honor of bypassing death and decay, doesn’t it make sense that God would offer that same honor to the Mother of Our Lord?
Anyway, many Christian denominations do not accept the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary, and that’s OK. This topic is what St. Paul described as a “disputable matter,” that is, not a core Christian doctrine and therefore not something we ought to get all hot and bothered about.
A more important concern is the accusation that Catholics have turned Mary into a goddess, on the same level as God Almighty. Admittedly, some Marian devotions that have developed over the years sure make it seem like people are worshiping Mary. If that is the case, it is theologically wrong, and I hope God doesn’t judge these folks too harshly since their hearts are in the right place.
Anyway, Mary is most definitely the preeminent of all saints, but she is not a deity. The Holy Trinity is perfect the way it is. There’s no need to make it a quartet.
After Mary was assumed into Heaven, she was crowned “Queen of Heaven.” At this point, some of our non-Catholic friends will exclaim, “Wait a minute! That’s not in the Bible. Is this another one of those wacky Catholic legends about Mary?”
Well, actually, the Bible clearly describes this event. In the book of Revelation, chapter 12, we read: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1).
This passage does not mention Mary by name, but the next few verses describe this woman giving birth “to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations” (Rev 12:5).
Obviously, the male child refers to Jesus. So, that makes the woman with the “crown of twelves stars” none other than Mary. At this point, it’s not much of a stretch at all, and certainly not a wacky legend, to conclude that Mary is the Queen of Heaven.
I suspect that right after Mary was crowned Queen of Heaven, Jesus smiled at her and said, “OK, my dear Eema, now it’s time to get to work.” And work she has, being the leading member of the Communion of Saints, hearing countless prayer requests and interceding with her Son, along with many startling supernatural appearances throughout history.
Well, actually, the Bible clearly describes this event. In the book of Revelation, chapter 12, we read: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1).
This passage does not mention Mary by name, but the next few verses describe this woman giving birth “to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations” (Rev 12:5).
Obviously, the male child refers to Jesus. So, that makes the woman with the “crown of twelves stars” none other than Mary. At this point, it’s not much of a stretch at all, and certainly not a wacky legend, to conclude that Mary is the Queen of Heaven.
I suspect that right after Mary was crowned Queen of Heaven, Jesus smiled at her and said, “OK, my dear Eema, now it’s time to get to work.” And work she has, being the leading member of the Communion of Saints, hearing countless prayer requests and interceding with her Son, along with many startling supernatural appearances throughout history.
The greatest thing about Mary is her humility. She never, ever wants the focus to be on herself. Her main mission is summed up in her last recorded words in Scripture. At the wedding feast at Cana (John, chapter 2), Mary pointed toward Jesus and then told the servers, “Do whatever He tells you.”
That has been Mary’s mission for close to 2,000 years: to tell people that they should do whatever Jesus says. And I have it on good authority that Jesus says to go to Mass next Tuesday and show some respect for His momma.
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