The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
This Sunday is a very special day indeed. We celebrate the solemnity (a feast day of the highest rank) of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – the day on which she was bodily taken up into heaven.
In the eastern church this feast is celebrated as the ‘Dormition of the Theotokos’ – the ‘falling asleep of the mother of God’ – which I think is a beautiful way to describe it.
In the western church we teach that Mary was taken fully up into Heaven and that her body was not corrupted by death.
“Having completed the course of her earthly life, [she] was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”
This teaching is connected with our understanding of Mary as the second Eve. This running parallel to the teaching of Jesus as the second Adam.
This is the final part of the four-fold teaching on Mary that we hold.
1 – Mary was the Mother of God (Theotokos).
2 – Mary had an immaculate conception.
3 – Mary had perpetual virginity.
4 – Mary was assumed into Heaven.
These ‘dogmas’ (teachings revealed to the Church by God) form the basis of our veneration of Our Lady.
We set Mary aside as special because only she can fully comprehend what a relationship with Jesus as fully man, and fully God entails. Through her example we can find a way to deepen and further our own relationship with God.
Mary is special because she takes us to her Son in all things. Ask Her for support when your faith is feeling thin.
Fr. Matthew
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It’s a very special solemnity today (Sunday) so do invite a friend and make sure you stay for refreshments after the service to celebrate.
Please note that Morning Prayer & Mass on Tuesday is at the earlier time of 8:45/9am to enable Fr. Matthew to take a funeral that morning.
The new dates for the Rosary Mission are the 10th October to the 24th October. There’s lots of planning for two weeks of invitation and love for the whole parish. If you’ve got an idea of how we can make people welcome do let me know. We’ll have a BBQ, some singing, crafts for children on the Saturday and lots more besides. If you’d like to be involved please shout!