THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

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15 Aug 2018 Wednesday - Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sharing my notes on the key messages 
from the reflection by the Most Rev Archbishop Willian Goh



To understand the Dogma of the Assumption we must first understand the meaning of Christ’s resurrection and His ascension
because the Assumption of Mary is analogous and a corollary to it.


The Resurrection of Christ
  • A totally transfigured and transformed body.  Jesus is now totally with God and in God -  glorified and shares the glory of God.
The Assumption of Mary 
  •  Her body was transformed and transfigured.   She is now filled with the glory of God and shares the life of God intensely.  

The Ascension of Christ
  • Celebrates His Kingship over the whole of creation, He continues to rule the world.

The Assumption of Mary
  • Celebrates her Queenship, continuing to exercise her maternal love for the Church through the power of intercession.

The basis for these beliefs
  • Right from the early Church, Mary was compared to the Ark of the Covenant
  • Mary exudes the presence of God in her life.
  • Mary relied on the grace of God alone.


In celebrating the Assumption, the Church wants us to know that
  • We can too can share in the glory of Mary.  She is the apex of the holiness of the Church and a model for us and that we too can arrive at her final destination.
  • We can be assured of her intercession for us, praying for our salvation and extending her maternal care for all of us through her prayers and example. We are not alone on this journey.

On our part, in celebrating the Assumption, like Mary
  • We too must live a life that glorifies God by doing His will, by living a life of charity and humble service.  We too must become the presence of God and carry Jesus with us wherever we are.  
  • We share in the victory over sin and death and we can and must conquer sin in our lives with the help of God’s grace given to us at His passion, death and resurrection.  



The bishop’s full reflection:

Some background to this feast:
The Church has been celebrating the feast since the 4th century.  However Pops Pius XII proclaimed it as a dogma only in 1950.  

It was set the era after the two world wars where millions died and the European societies were in the state of great despair.   Against such background, the pope wanted to remind the faithful that there was still hope - our Christian hope of  resurrection in Christ. 

So the dogma is about hope, our hope of resurrection. Mary is an example for us that one day we too will enter heaven body n soul if we live a righteous life.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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