What's Wrong...and/or Right...with the Catholic Church

“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Revelation 12:1
Entire Reading- Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10

Have you ever had a dream or set a goal in your mind that you ended up not pursuing because you felt it was unattainable? Too out of your reach? Like, it seemed so far off that you thought it was better to not even try. That can be the case when we contemplate Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and the saints. We can feel intimidated and believe that the path they set for us is out of our reach. But the truth is, with the help of God’s grace, what they have can be ours as well.

              The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an early Christian belief and a dogma of the Church that was promulgated by Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Munificentissimus Deus on August 15, 1950. It declares that “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son's Resurrection...” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 974) Not only that, but this in anticipation of “…the resurrection of all members of his Body.” (ibid.) The Assumption is a “…a sign of sure hope and solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth.” (Lumen Gentium 68) This feast is also a celebration of our future hope and glory. It is the victory won for us by Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

            Today, let’s recourse to the Blessed Virgin Mary as we continue our pilgrimage here on earth. We invite you to contemplate the glory of the resurrection that is ours in Christ, and together with Our Lady say, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name” (Luke 1:46-47, 49)