SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (August 15, 2025)

Gospel Bullet Points (Luke 1:39-56)

• Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. The doctrine of the Assumption teaches that at the end of her earthly existence, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up (assumed), body and soul, into heaven.

• This was a consequence of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. This was a gift to Mary in virtue of her fiat—her consent to be the mother of the Savior. In her acceptance of being the mother of Jesus, Mary was grateful and confident that God would provide whatever was necessary to carry out this responsibility.

• We are invited to have similar dispositions in receiving God’s gift. Mary did not ask whether she deserved it. Instead, Mary trusted in God’s love and care for her. We might examine ourselves on both counts.

• In today’s Gospel, Mary sought out Elizabeth to assist her and to share her joy as a gifted person. A beautiful experience of sharing. A wonderful example of a gift that God gives freely and without complication. An example of a gift joyfully yet humbly received from God and in turn shared with others. Like Mary, we, too, are all gifted, though in varied ways. Gifted as we are, we must give freely and without complications.