Today, August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that Catholics must attend Mass.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII wrote on the teaching of the Assumption and declared it a dogma.

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 (Munificentissimus Deus 44).

The Solemnity of the Assumption — known as the Dormition of Mary in the Eastern Churches — is a special day for me and an important day for all Christians.

Special for Me

Four years ago I heard about Marian Consecration for the first time when I was given a copy of Father Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory.

Pope Pius XII explained:

Consecration to the Mother of God is a total gift of self, for the whole of life and for all eternity; and a gift which is not a mere formality or sentimentality, but effectual, comprising the full intensity of the Christian life – Marian life. [It] tends essentially to union with Jesus, under the guidance of Mary.

This offering is typically done on a Marian feast day, so I chose the Assumption because it was the soonest I could do it.

On August 15, 2015 I consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary.

On August 15, 2016 I consecrated myself to Divine Mercy using Father Michael Gaitley’s format.

On August 15, 2018 I renewed the Marian Consecration using Saint Louis de Montfort’s format with someone important to me.

As you can see, the Assumption is a special day for me!

These acts have affected my spiritual life, and my life in general, in profound ways.

The most obvious, and most important, way has been ordering my life towards the necessary goal: heaven.

Important for Christians

God put each of us here for a specific mission. We’re pilgrims on a journey and meant to reach a specific destination; we’re meant to reach heaven.

As Christians, we must never forget that while we’re in the world, we’re not of it. We don’t belong to the world. We belong to God, and our home is in heaven.

We must always remember that the purpose of our lives is to become saints and spend eternity with Him.

Mary is the model for us. She lived an earthly life in perfect union with God. She lived in the world but never abandoned her identity as a faithful disciple of the Lord.

Mary obeyed His will, fulfilled her mission and returned home at the appointed time.

At the end of her life, Mary was taken to heaven body and soul. Even though our journey to heaven won’t be the same as hers, this solemnity is meant to remind us that God desires the same end for each of us.

And this end is only the beginning…

Have a happy and holy Assumption Day!