When we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, we recognize that this is an absolute truth of our Catholic faith, and we accept that she was assumed into heaven, body and soul.

When hearing the word assumption, do you think about the Assumption of Mary or do you lean more toward Webster’s definition, such as 1. a taking to or upon oneself, 2. the act of laying claim to or taking possession of something, 3. a: an assuming that something is true; b: a fact or statement taken for granted, 4. the taking of a person into heaven, or 5: the taking over of another’s debts. What a fitting word used to describe one of the greatest truths of our Catholic faith.

As Catholics, we celebrate the Assumption of Mary because it is in this absolute truth that we find God’s grace and hope for what will be when our bodies and souls are reunited. This belief, which is part of the dogma of the Catholic Church, teaches us that Mary as a perfect disciple was taken into heavenly glory, body, and soul. God took her into heaven by His power and in the Assumption, we find hope that we may all share in this glorification when our bodies and souls are reunited. When we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, we are celebrating hope, and victory over sin and death. When we attend mass on that day, we remember Christ’s sacrifice and we acknowledge that victory. At Mass, we first sit at the table of our Savior and through the Eucharistic celebration we acknowledge our love for the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Later we celebrate with family and friends because in them we find the miracles that God grants us every day.

Assumptions can take us to many places, but at every Mass, we recite the truths about our faith, and we accept these truths without hesitation as facts. I assume that there is one God the creator of all that we see and cannot see. I assume that God sent Jesus to be born of the Virgin Mary and was sent to save us all from original sin and death. I assume that Jesus was sent to open the door to paradise and to invite each of us to enter. I assume that He conquered death on the third day. I assume that the risen Christ walked amongst us, and His promise will be fulfilled if we believe. It is easy to assume when I have seen so many miracles amid so much suffering. 

Seeing life through the window of death makes it easy to assume that paradise is a fact and that the key is formed in the shape of a cross.  

God Bless,

Andrej N. Lah

Director of Cemeteries