Since the earliest centuries of Christianity, the belief that Mary was taken up to heaven with both her body and her soul has been part of the teaching of the Catholic Church. As Christians celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption on Aug. 15, Father Lourdu Pasala, pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in New Chicago, offered answers to some questions regarding the Mother of Jesus and one of the oldest holy days in the Church.
What is the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven?
Mary was conceived without original sin. God made and created her without sin – immaculate. God chose her to be the mother of the Son of God; and for this purpose she was created without sin. When she completed her mission on Earth she was taken up to heaven.
We never hear anything in the Bible that she came back to life. The dogma was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII, saying that she was assumed into heaven and that is the faith.
Why is the Feast of the Assumption always a Holy Day of Obligation?
To honor this truth (of the Assumption) we think of it as an obligation. Both the Immaculate Conception and Assumption are days of obligation within the Catholic Church. We should look at these not as an obligation, but as an opportunity to honor Mother Mary. It is the greatest honor we could give, to celebrate her, and that’s how we should look at it rather than as an obligation to fulfill.
Why was Mary 'assumed' instead of 'ascended'?
Mary accompanied her son until the end of his life, from birth until his ascension, and when her mission was completed, she was taken away to heaven. She is “assumed,” not resurrected, because she has no power to resurrect herself. There is no restoration there. Because of her relationship with the Son of God, she becomes a partner in salvation. When she died, God took her to heaven. Assumption means she has been taken away.
What does it mean that Mary is full of grace?
Grace is something coming down from God. Only God can give grace. Mary was chosen by God, immaculate without sin, to become the Mother of God. She became the channel for the grace to be received. That is why the angel Gabriel announced it in that way “Hail Mary, full of grace.”
This was the dogma defended in the 13th century by John Duns Scouts, a Franciscan friar. Later, in 1854, the Immaculate Conception dogma came into existence. But the thought started in the 13th century, that Mary is immaculate because her son is God, and God is immaculate with no sin, and she has to be also without sin for this purpose.
What are some important lessons Catholics can learn from Mary?
Every mother is a role model to their children. In a broader sense, Mother Mary is also a role model to us. How? She gave consent to the Word of God by saying, ‘Yes, thy will be done.’ She surrenders herself totally to God. So in this action, Mother Mary teaches us to be humble and offer ourselves to God. That is one of the greatest qualities; humbling oneself.
Mary continued to follow God's will. She accompanied her son from death to resurrection, and she was with the apostles praying together to her son, to God. That is another great quality, where Mother teaches children to also pray to the Lord, surrendering oneself. Those are the qualities we should take from our Mother, to pray for everybody.
Have you witnessed the presence of Mary in your own life?
I would say physically no, but spiritually my Mother is always with me. From morning till evening, around the house, I pass several statues reminding me of her. In that way she is always with me.
I am also named after Mother. She appeared at Lourdes (France) and my name is Father Lourdu. My own mother named me after Mother Mary, so there is no way that I would forget her. Who I am today is because of Mother Mary. It brings me joy to call upon her and I entrust myself to her. She's always protecting and guiding.
How has the parish of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in New Chicago remained close to the Blessed Mother?
First thing, Mary has been with us all these years. We celebrated 100 years as a parish in 2017. Her protection is always with us. We have a statue of Mother Mary outside near the church, and every other week we bring flowers for her in a location inside the church. We also pray the Rosary before Mass.
I feel we're losing honor and devotion to Mother Mary slowly because we used to have women's groups about 50 years ago that every day and evening would lead the Rosary and have dinner after that. Nowadays people seem to be forgetting those things. For the last few years, every other Wednesday the parish has offered the Rosary and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction. So this way we are slowly rewiring our relationship with Mother.
Father Pasala is the pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in New Chicago.
Complied by Erin Ciszczon, Northwest Indiana Catholic