Homily: August 15, 2025, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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 “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.”

Sometime ago, I once shared with a priest friend my struggle to pray the Rosary. I struggled with the resistance and reluctance to pray, I struggled with the appreciating the value of the repetitive prayers, I struggled with devoting myself to Mary when I can go direct to Jesus.

He then responded to me a beautiful line from the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Cause of our joy, pray for us.” And he assured me very confidently that Mary is the cause of our joy, the more we grow in our relationship with her, the more joyful our life will be.

That made me think. Years have passed since that conversation, and I can honestly say now that I love praying the Rosary. I feel more attached to our Lady, and I truly experience her as the cause of my joy. I feel joyful when I pray the rosary, because I can feel that she comes to me to help me and strengthen me.

Much like what happened in today’s Gospel, we see Mary visiting Elizabeth in the Judean hill country. Her coming in haste and her very presence filled Elizabeth with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and the unborn John the Baptist too received that divine blessing as he leapt for joy in her womb.

At the wedding feast of Cana, again Mother Mary’s loving presence brought joy to the celebration as she interceded and diverted a tragedy into a triumph.

There have been numerous Marian apparitions around the world throughout time, as Mary continues to visit us delivering reminders to be faithful to Jesus, to pray, to do penance and to believe God’s promises. Whoever she appeared to, would always be filled with tremendous joy. Mary’s presence brought assurance, peace, and renewed faith.

The Feast of the Assumption was first celebrated in the Eastern Churches around the 5th century; it was then known as the ‘Dormition of Mary’, referring to Mary falling asleep in the Lord and being taken body and soul into heaven. She was transitioned from earthly life to heavenly abode by our Lord.

Today’s first reading began with: “God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.” The Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to as the Ark of the Covenant.

In the Old Testament, the Ark contained three things: the budding staff of Aaron the priest, the tablets of the Ten Commandments, and the manna from heaven. Mary, the living Ark, also contained three sacred things within her womb: Jesus, the High Priest, the fulfillment of the Law, and Jesus’ body, the true Bread from Heaven.

In 2 Samuel, we read that King David danced before the Ark with great joy. And now we see the unborn John the Baptist leapt for joy before Mary, the living Ark.

Mary wants for us exactly what God wants: our salvation, the unification of our souls with Jesus, for us to enter heaven to be with her and her Son. She has gone there first, but she will come personally to visit us at the hour of our death, and bring us to heaven.

Today, as we honor Mary’s Assumption into heaven, let us renew our relationship with her and revive our devotion to her.

Holy Mary, refuge of sinners, seat of wisdom, cause of our joy, Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Amen.


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