Assumption Day

Assumption Day is celebrated on or around August 15 in many countries, particularly in

parts of Europe and South America.

Assumption Day commemorates the belief that when Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ,
died, her body was "assumed" into heaven to be reunited with her soul, instead of going through
the natural process of physical decay upon death.

Assumption Day is a public holiday in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia,
France, parts of Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and
Switzerland. It is also celebrated in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States,
and others, despite not being considered a public holiday. It is celebrated colorful processions,
performances, pageants, and fireworks, but each region puts its own spin on celebrations.

Although the holiday goes by many different names -- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, and the Feast of the Assumption to name
a few -- it has been celebrated since the fourth century C.E. In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared the
Assumption of Mary official dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church
teaches that the Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body
and soul into heavenly glory." At Assumption Day celebrations, it is common to artistic
depictions of the Virgin Mary on display. This artwork, done by Rubens around 1626, portrays
the Assumption of Mary. Other Western artists, such as Duccio, Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Raphael, Giovanni Bellini, and Caravaggio have also created art featuring the
Virgin Mary.

History of Our Lady of the Assumption

According to Stephen J. Shoemaker, the first known narrative to address the end of
Mary's life and her assumption is the apocryphal third- and possibly second-century, Liber
Requiei Mariae. Shoemaker asserts that "this earliest evidence for the veneration of Mary
appears to come from a markedly heterodox theological milieu".

The New Testament is silent regarding the end of her life, the early Christians produced
no accounts of her death, and in the late 4th century Epiphanius of Salamis wrote he could find
no authorized tradition about how her life ended. Nevertheless, his indecisive reflections suggest
that some difference of opinion on the matter had already arisen in his time, and he identified
three beliefs concerning her end: that she died a normal and peaceful death; that she died a
martyr; and that she did not die. Even more, in another text Epiphanius stated that Mary was like
Elijah because she never died but was assumed like him.

The early 8th century the belief was so well established that John of Damascus could set
out what had become the standard Eastern tradition, that "Mary died in the presence of the
Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened, upon the request of St Thomas, was found empty;
wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven."

The Feast of the Dormition, imported from the East, arrived in the West in the early 7th
century, its name changing to Assumption in some 9th century liturgical calendars. In the same
century Pope Leo IV gave the feast a vigil and an octave to solemnise it above all others, and
Pope Nicholas I placed it on a par with Christmas and Easter, tantamount to declaring Mary's
translation to Heaven as important as the Incarnation and Resurrection of Christ. In the 10th
century the German nun Elisabeth of Schonau was reportedly granted visions of Mary and her
son which had a profound influence on the Western Church's tradition that Mary had ascended
body and soul into Heaven, and Pope Benedict XIV declared it "a probable opinion, which to
deny were impious and blasphemous".

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church (Bulakan)

The Our Lady of Assumption Parish Church, commonly known as the Bulakan Church,
is a 19th-century Neo-Byzantine-Romanesque stone church located at Brgy. San Jose, in the
Municipality of Bulakan (formerly spelled as Bulacan), Bulacan province, Philippines. It is one
of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos under the Vicariate of the Immaculate
Conception. The church was declared Marked Historical Structure of the Philippines in 2007 by
the National Historical Institute, the precursor of the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines. A historical marker bearing a brief history of the church was installed by the
commission.

The parish and the first church was established by the Augustinian Fathers in 1575 as a
sub-parish of Tondo. In 1578, the town of Bulakan was proclaimed a separate parish from
Tondo. According to the historical marker, during the British invasion in 1762 the Bulakan
Church was razed by fire. The construction of the present church and convent was started in
1812 by Father Gaspar Folgar, OSA. The church had sustained damages due to various natural
calamities: earthquakes on June 3, 1863; October 1, 1869; and the Luzon earthquakes of 1880,
which heavily damaged structures not only Bulakan town but most of Luzon Island.

Religious Practices Traditions and Customs

Many popular devotions arose over the centuries to honor the Blessed Virgin on this holy
day. In some countries, women named Mary celebrated their patron saint by throwing open-
house parties for their friends and neighbors; towns held processions and festivals complete with
flowers, music, and dancing. Here are 5 more historical ways to celebrate this feast day.

1. OUR LADY OF THE HERBS AND FLOWERS – Herbs picked in August are thought to be
the most potent, so many churches have traditionally held a "blessing of the herbs" on this
day. In Poland the day was known historically as the Feast of Our Lady of Herbs, and Poles
in America often continued the tradition in a new way, as Our Lady of Flowers. Children
would sing hymns in Polish and English at church during traditional celebrations, and their
parents would later enjoy dancing to traditional Polish music.
2. PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN – In Italy, the townspeople follow a statue of Our
Lady through the streets to the church in a procession. Siena is famous for its "Palio di
Siena," a wild, lawless horse race held in the city's public square. The participants and many
spectators dress in medieval attire, and the city comes alive with decorations and spectators,
making the annual race a beloved tradition.
3. CROWN MARY WITH FLOWERS – Crowning Mary with flowers is a May tradition, but
there's no reason not to honor Our Lady any day of the year, and the Assumption is
especially fitting! So, if you never got around to crowning Mary in May, the Church has you
covered: here's another liturgically appropriate occasion to do so. You could make a flower
crown for a Marian statue.
4. OFFERING THE FIRST FRUITS – In imitation of the Biblical Abel, who made the same
worthy sacrifice, there is a custom of offering the "first fruits" of the harvest to God. So, the
Sunday closest to the Assumption is set aside for the Blessing of the Grapes. A commendable
custom arose of refraining from eating grapes until after the blessing, at which time trays
 laden with fruit were brought into the churches, blessed, and given to each member of the
congregation to take home.
5. PROPOSE MARRIAGE – It is customary to propose marriage on August 15, when the
couple can specifically ask Mary to bless their future together. Young people used to enjoy
picnics and parties, and after a procession through the village following a statue of Our Lady,
they would dance by the light of bonfires.

Trivia of Our Lady of the Assumption

In the presence of the apostles gathered around her bed, also in the presence of her divine
Son and many angels, Mary died and her soul ascended to heaven, accompanied by Christ and
the angels. Her body was buried by the disciples.

Roman Catholics believe the doctrine of the Assumption, which teaches that at the end of
her life, Mary, the mother of Christ, was taken body and soul (i.e. both physically and spiritually)
into heaven to live with her son (Jesus Christ) forever.

The doctrine was declared dogma for Roman Catholics by Pope Pius XII in the apostolic
constitution Munificentissimus Deus on November 1, 1950.

The Story of Our Lady of the Assumption

Our beloved mother saint Mary, when she was about 58 years old, an angel of the lord
came to her to announce the date of her departure. She was exceedingly joyful, and she asked all
the apostles to come to her quickly, during this time many of the apostles were dispersed all over
the world preaching the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ miraculously they all convened to her
except saint Thomas, who was preaching the faith in India. Said Mary was happy to see all the
apostles and she informed them that her departure from this world is at hand, she prayed for them
and blessed them Jesus Christ with a multitude of angels, came to take her pure soul to heaven
with hymns and praises with the angels.

The apostles placed her holy body in a place prepared for her in gethsemane for three
days, angels were praising and singing around her tomb and a beautiful smelling aroma spread
from the place where virgin Mary was buried it was god's will to ascend the pure body of virgin
Mary to heaven this matter was hidden from the apostles except saint Thomas who was
preaching in India and he was not present when saint Mary departed from this world on his way
back to Jerusalem he saw the top of one of the mountains a multitude of angels who informed
him to hurry and to take the blessing of the body of the mother of god he hurried and kissed and
received the blessings of the pure body the girdle that surrounded saint Mary's holy body fell and
he hurried and picked it up and kissed a glorifying god for this blessing when he arrived at
Jerusalem after he had completed his pastoral visits sent Thomas wanting to reveal the miracle of
the assumption of the pure body of saint Mary he asked to visit the tomb where she was buried
when the apostles lifted up the stone they did not find the body in the tomb which disturbed them
all and they were astonished saint Thomas explained to them what he saw and how the angels
carried the pure body of saint Mary to heaven the proof was saint Mary's girdle the apostles
decided to fast to the lord would reveal to them the truth about the body of saint Mary they fasted
for two weeks and on the sixteenths of misread the lord Christ.

Along with virgin Mary appeared to the disciples and apostles the lord told them that the
body that carried the son of God the Lubus and took from it his humanity should not remain in
the dust of the earth. Let us all gather and seek the blessings of our beloved mothers in Mary and
ask her to intercede for us before the throne of her son Jesus Christ let us honor our holy mother
for, she became worthy to be called mother of God. Oh virgin Mary pray for us and ask the lord
to forgive us and deal with us according to his mercy.

After the Assumption

“Our Lady of the Assumption, at Naples, built by the canonesses regular of Saint
Augustine, out of gratitude for the favor which the mother of God did them, by warning them to
leave a house which fell down as soon as they were gone out of it.”

The church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption is more commonly known as
Naples Cathedral or as the Cathedral di San Gennaro, in honor of the city’s patron saint, Saint
Januarius.

The mother of Jesus Christ, died, her body was "assumed" into heaven to be reunited
with her soul, instead of going through the natural process of physical decay upon death.

Our Lady of Assumption when according to our faith, the Holy Mother “having
completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.
 The Catechism affirms that Mary did not suffer from original sin but was conceived full
of grace. According to this doctrine, known as the Immaculate Conception, God’s supernatural
life dwelt in Mary from the very beginning of her existence.

To emphasize that from a Catholic perspective, the Immaculate Conception is not simply
about Mary. This doctrine, which has its roots in early Christianity, ultimately is about the
mystery of Jesus Christ. God became man in Mary’s womb. Since Jesus truly is the all-holy God,
the Second Person of the Trinity, Catholics believe he is worthy to dwell in a pure vessel, a holy
temple. Thus, it is fitting that God would prepare Mary as an immaculate dwelling place, full of
grace and not stained by sin, for the God-man.

However, the majority of theologians and saints throughout the centuries have affirmed
that Mary did experience death—not as a penalty for sin but in conformity to her son, who
willingly experienced death on our behalf. In support of this latter view, John Paul II said, “The
Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death, giving it a new meaning and changing it
into a means of salvation.”

Our Lady of the Assumption Prayer

Mary, Queen assumed into heaven, I rejoice that after years of heroic martyrdom on
earth, you have at last been taken to the throne prepared for you in heaven by the Holy Trinity.

Lift my heart with you in the glory of your Assumption above the dreadful touch of sin
and impurity. Teach me how small earth becomes when viewed from heaven. Make me realize
that death is the triumphant gate through which I shall pass to your Son, and that someday my
body shall rejoin my soul in the unending bliss of heaven.

From this earth, over which I tread as a pilgrim, I look to you for help. I ask for this
favor: (Mention your request).

When my hour of death has come, lead me safely to the presence of Jesus to enjoy the
vision of my God for all eternity together with you.

Our Lady of the Assumption Song (O fairest of all visions)

1 Oh, fairest of all visions,

With meekly folded hands,

Adoring eyes uplifted,

Before her God she stands.

Chorus:

Mother pure, Mother pure,

Virgin fair, Virgin fair,

Spotless Dove, Spotless Dove,

Peerless Maid, Peerless Maid,

Crown'd Queen of God's creation,

Our Queen Immaculate.

2 Oh! fairest of all visions,

That met the eager gaze,

Of Patriarch and Prophet,

In far primeval days. [Chorus]

3 Oh! fairest of all visions,

Our weary exile o'er,

In thy unclouded glory

We'll see thee evermore. [Chorus]

4 We'll see thee, Queen and Mother,

Enthroned in royal state,

In all thy virgin splendor,

Our Queen Immaculate. [Chorus]