The Assumption of Mary

Today should be Mother's Day. In the Catholic Faith, today is the day we celebrate Mary,the virgin mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It has always been the belief of the Catholic Faith that when Mary died, God took her body and soul into Heaven. After all, why would the Creator of all things want the mother of his son to be left on earth? He protected her body from decay by bringing her up to heaven. This belief was confirmed into the Catholic Dogma in the 1950's. As such, many Christians believe it to be a new belief. It's not. From the moment her Son was lifted into heaven, Mary prayed for her Son's church. Her prayers strengthened the Apostles and their Disciples. (CCC 965)

"Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." (CCC 966)

Think, for just a moment, what the world would be like without her fiat to God. There would have been no virgin birth, no shining star, and no three wise men. Our world would be without parables or Prodigal Sons and treasures buried in fields. The 12 Apostles would never have left their fishing nets and families to take on a radical life with Jesus. The blood spilled on the cross would never have happened, our sins would still bring only death. Hell's door would not have been blown apart by Jesus' resurrection. We would not have the churches we have. The New Testament? Nope.

One woman changed the world with a simple "yes".

"In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death." Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th.

A prayer for all Mothers:
Lord, you carefully selected Mary to be the mother of your Son. Each of us here on this earth has a mother, someone whom You selected for us. Many of us know and love our mothers, but many do not; whether through adoption, death, or some other separation. Lord, I ask that you bless all mothers today in a special way. Comfort them and their children in the way only You can. In Your name we pray, Amen.

(dormition means to fall asleep, or figuratively, death. Also, celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary's being taken up into heaven when her earthly life ended; corresponds to the Assumption in the Roman Catholic Church and is also celebrated on August 15th. Definitions taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dormition)