Weekend Wisdom - August 11th, 2024

The Feast of the Assumption, which will be celebrated this week on August 15th, is one of the oldest holy days in the Church, with accounts of celebrations going back to the sixth century. Christians in the East, both Catholic and Orthodox, refer to it as the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos or "the falling asleep of the Mother of God." On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII, declared it an Apostolic Constitution known as the Munificentissimus Deus, that it is a dogma of the Church "that the Immaculate Mother of God the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."

The Magnificat (found in Luke 1:46-55) is the Blessed Virgin Mary’s canticle praising our Lord. Tis inspiring prayer has been called the song of both the Mother of God and of the Church.

After Mary gives her consent to becoming the Mother of God, -- “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38) -- she goes “with haste” (1:39) to help Elizabeth, who is delighted to see her. Our Holy Mother then expresses her joy in the Magnificat. Hastening to help her cousin, Our Holy Mother is focused on service to others. In this way she glorifies the Lord in reflecting and “magnifying” His goodness and love.

The Magnificat is more than a prayer of praise. It also reminds us about the essential link between humility and holiness, gratitude and service. With this beautiful prayer of our Holy Mother we pray to magnify the Lord as we focus our lives on God’s mercy, not our own strength/pride, and to serve with a loving and joyful heart. I am humbled and blessed as I see this loving, joyful service of so many in our churches. Thank you for the many blessings you share as you magnify our Lord with your lives through your prayers and service. We celebrate the Assumption on August 15th with Mass at 7:30am and Noon at St. Francis Xavier Parish and at 8:30am and 6:00pm at St. Mary.

“He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered His promise of Mercy”.

Many blessings to you and your families,

Ellen Moore Coordinator Pastoral Care and Evangelization