Next week the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be observed. It falls this year on Sunday so it will be an opportunity to celebrate it with a larger part of the faith community. The Assumption is a Holy Day of obligation. Unfortunately, it is usually a smaller crowd when it falls during the week. So, this year falling on Sunday we have the opportunity to engage this observance with the full force of Sunday attendance. So, what is the Assumption? It is an observance of the occasion when the Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily assumed into Heaven at the moment of her death. It has been a subject of discussion among Catholic theologians as to whether she actually died or was simply assumed into heaven at the end of her earthly life. Some have argued that she had no sin therefore she was not subject to death. Others have countered that she followed the footsteps of her Savior-son and died. Does it matter? Obviously to some but in general it makes little difference to our salvation. What it does mean is that her mission/ministry changed. Similar to her divine Son and like the saints she entered into the powerful mission of an intercessor. Only hers is supreme to all the saints due to her office as Mother of God. (Now don’t let that confuse you.) The title Mother of God is not so much about Mary but about the person she gave birth to, Jesus. He is fully human and fully God/divine. In conceiving and giving birth to him, that makes her the “Mother of God.” Please be encouraged to read up on this as it drives non-Catholics crazy.” In all things, Mary in her perfect humanness sets the pattern/model for the Church and every Christian. In all things she is what we are to do and become, bringing Christ into the world, nurturing, and giving the Body of Christ to the world. Among the few words we have from Mary in scripture she says of her Son, “Do whatever he tells you.” Super advice! To this I would add, “Do it the way Mary did it!” Yours in Christ our Lord and Savior. Fr. Sid.