The Assumption of Mary also reveals the mystery of woman

The feast of the Assumption falls in the middle of summer, on August 15. This date was not chosen at random. Mary's ascent to heavenly glory, with her "body and soul" as expressed in the dogma defined by Pope Pius XII, came at “harvest time”: the Assumption marks the summit of the of the paschal mystery, its crowning achievement and ripe fruit, just like the harvest of saintly souls, signified by the fact that this dogma was proclaimed on November 1,1950, the feast of All Saints. With the entry of Mary into Heaven, the redemption in Christ reached its full completion.

However, despite the popularity of this feast (especially in France where it is a holy day of obligation as well as a public holiday), some might wonder why it holds such importance in the liturgical calendar. There are at least four main reasons that explain the importance of this Marian mystery in Catholicism:

First, Mary's ascent to heavenly glory is the condition for the exercise of her spiritual motherhood towards us. From Heaven, the Virgin Mary watches over us with tender care, while leading God's battle against Satan, for no one fights better than a mother for her children.

Second, by affirming Mary’s motherhood, the Assumption reveals to us the ultimate truth of the human body. What is the body? It is that element of ourselves that is oriented towards the world, towards others and towards God. The body expresses this faculty of coming out of ourselves. Therefore Mary, who was assumed into Heaven with her body and soul, is now in continual relationship with the world and all people.

Third, by bringing to light the central dimension of the human body in the Mother of Christ, the Assumption also reveals to us the intimate mystery of who we are. Mary's ascent to heavenly glory is a prophetic scene that applies to the Church, called to live in and with God, expressing the truth that no dimension of our person will be left out of eternal life. On the contrary, God will keep all these aspects unified.

Fourth, the Assumption is prophetic of man's reign over the cosmos: the glorified body institutes a new relationship between our person and matter.

Additionally, the Assumption reveals to us our final destiny. The transfiguration of the Virgin in glory shows us Heaven in a new light: the heavenly world is no longer a disembodied reality. At the right hand of the Risen One on Easter Day stands his glorified Mother, in her body. The "new earth and the new heavens" announced in the Book of Revelation are inhabited by flesh and blood human beings. This is a reminder that grace does not destroy nature, but rather brings it to fulfillment! And this underscores the significance of August 15 and harvest time.

We also read in Revelation 12:1 that "A great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman!" The Assumption reveals the mystery of the woman. The time has come to ask ourselves whether Christianity does not hold the key to understanding this mystery. Christian author Léon Bloy famously said, "The holier a woman, the more she is a woman."

Finally, French Catholics will know that Our Lady of the Assumption is the principal patroness of France since the vow made by King Louis XIII of February 15, 1638, who instituted in perpetuity a procession to the Virgin on August 15 throughout the kingdom of France.

Adapted from an article by Jean Michel Castaing