August 12, 2018

This week we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church has defined as a dogma that Mary, ever sinless, was taken into heaven at the end of her earthly life body and soul. This feast honors Mary the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. When you attend church this week consider this statement of our faith. God, our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit show Mary great honor and in showing her honor, honor each human being, that is, all of us.

Because we have been honored in Mary, we honor other human beings, treating them with great respect and dignity. This calls us to live a life that is of high moral value and acknowledging goodness everywhere and doing good all the time.

It was with great sadness that I read and followed certain events while on my recent vacation: the on-going concerns about immigration in the United States with separation of children from their parents; the resignation of Archbishop McCarrick from the College of Cardinals because of creditable accusations of abuse.

Each of these very difficult situations must be faced and addressed. They are not easy for us to look at and think about. But they do call us as Catholics, believers in Jesus Christ, and children of God our Father, to call leaders in the Church to be faithful, persons of integrity and not abuse the power that is assigned to them. It also calls our government to administer our laws with compassion for those who are vulnerable like children.

Mary, the Mother of the Church, is a particularly needed model and example. As we celebrate this feast of her Assumption, let us ask her to guide us to be people of integrity and compassion always.

Fr. Joe