Dear friends in Christ

This weekend we celebrate a major festival in the Church: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven. From the fifth century Christians have held that Mary was taken body and soul into Heaven. In other words, God gave the highest of all privileges to His Mother at the end of her life, and did so simply because she was His Mother and He loved her so much. The Assumption of Mary was eventually made a dogma of Catholic Faith in 1950. In the Preface of the Mass we pray: Today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into Heaven as the beginning and the image of your Church coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people. The Assumption of Mary is a wonderful precursor of our own resurrection. It is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus, who will refashion our frail bodies after the pattern of His own glorious body, as St Paul says. This Solemnity reminds us, and renews the joy of, Easter and the Ascension. It is also a great sign and source of hope for eternal life and our future glory with God and His Mother. Today our prayers and petitions to her are of loving trust. May she who has gone before us into Heaven, continue to call us heavenwards to that glory and reward prepared for the Children of God!

God bless you all and keep you under the protection of His glorious Mother.

Msgr Kevin Hale