This year, the 20th Sunday of OT (Year C) coincides with the feast of the Assumption of Mary. The Assumption of Mary is a defined dogma of the Church, and given formal expression in Munificentissimus Deus (November 1, 1950) by Pope Pius XII. It is a dogma, that is, the clear formulation of a belief already existing in the Church and is proclaimed "in a form obliging the Christian people to an irrevocable adherence of faith" (CCC 88). How the dogma was defined is narrated by the Pius XII himself, a summary of which I have posted here.
Read the relevant articles about the liturgical readings for the day in the following posts and use the rest of this page as a guide for reflection
1. In the Magnificat, she who is "Full of Grace" sings "The Almighty has done great things for me,..." Mary sings as the maid of Nazareth who has become "Mother of God". Her Assumption into heaven and crowning as Queen of Heaven and Earth are privileges flowing from her Divine Motherhood.
"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. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:" (CCC 966)
Reflect: The Catholic Church has always looked to Mary in her relationship to Christ, the Incarnate Word, in whose Passion and Resurrection she participated in a most special way. It is this relationship that puts her above all other saints and relates her closely to the Trinity, on the one hand, and to all the redeemed, on the other. What place does Mary have in your life as a Christian? What significance does the title "Mother Mary" have for you, personally?
2. In the gospel of Luke, Mary is also presented as the blueprint of the Church, which has been "graced" by God in Christ. Her song of praise, is also the Church's song of gratitude to the God whose gaze is upon the humble and the lowly. Mary's Assumption into heaven also points to the Church's future destiny in the presence of God.
Reflect: By her Assumption, Mary has gone ahead of us. There in God's presence she intercedes as Queen and Mother of us all who are members of the suffering and pilgrim Church. When you pray the second part of the Hail Mary, you are actually invoking her intercession for your sake and for the Church. Do you still pray the "Hail Mary"? When you pray for others, do you also invoke the intercession of Mary?
3. Jesus once said: Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that where I am, there my servant will also be (Jn. 12:26). This word applies to Mary in a special way, for she participated in his suffering and death in a way that only mothers could. And because she shared in His passion and death, she also shared in His glorification in a way that only the Mother of God could.
Reflect: What we Catholics call "Marian spirituality" is actually a way of living the faith that values the qualities of Mary's discipleship: her humility, obedience of faith, generosity, charity, union in the sufferings of Christ, etc. It is also characterized by a life of prayer that draws its sustenance from the Eucharist and the meditation on the mysteries of the life and sufferings of the Lord (the rosary). In a sense, "Christian spirituality" is "Marian spirituality": "blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it", the Lord would say. How do you live the Christian life? If you would examine the way you practise the faith, do you find the traits of Mary's own life there, esp. her devotion to the Word of God and her readiness to serve Him?
