[Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56]

On the 1st November 1950, Pope Pius XII declared that ‘the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.’[1] Pope Pius was confirming this belief, which had been held by some Christians for centuries to be a matter of fact and declared it as ‘divinely revealed dogma.’[2]

In the first reading from the book of the Apocalypse, St John uses images which would have been familiar to his readers; at least three pagan societies had mythical stories where a monster, which preyed on their society would be slayed by a saviour from within their community.  John used elements of these three stories.  The point John was making was that “the hope of salvation from evil and chaos, which such stories embodied has now become a reality; a reality known to the Church and shared through its witness to the whole world.” John is highlighting that “the hopes and aspirations of the world are not a threat to be avoided, but a dream which finds its waking reality in Christ.” [3]

Likewise, in St Pauls’ first letter to the Corinthians we are reminded that if death came to man through the actions of one man: Adam, then man can be brought to life again through the resurrection of Christ.  Jesus, the new Adam, will conquer all sovereignties, powers and dominions, and only then will he hand the kingdom of God back to his Father. The late Professor James Dunn of the University of Durham suggested “Adam represents humankind through life to death, so Christ represents humankind through death to life.”[4]

These two passages talk of heavenly conflict with victory for God. These are complimented by what initially seems like a very human story from St Luke’s Gospel.  Mary having recently found out that she is pregnant, goes to help her cousin, Elizabeth, who is also pregnant.  This is something which has happened in human society for what seems like forever and still goes on today.  Women who are pregnant meet up and talk about their joy, their hopes and fears.  However, when they meet, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt.  This first human recognition of Jesus; by the prophet from within his mother’s womb, is followed by Elizabeth; the prophet’s mother; recognising the significance of Mary, as the ‘mother of my Lord’.

We then have the beautiful prayer The Magnificat, when Our Lady, no doubt prompted by the Spirit, praises God for the blessings bestowed upon her and declaring that God will turn the world upside down by overthrowing what man sees as significant and re-establishing what God holds to be significant. 

St Luke then tells us that Mary stayed with Elizabeth until around the time that Elizabeth’s baby was due, before returning home.

These passages from scripture link heaven and earth, they link the beginning of time with the end of time and they link us as humans with God.  As Jesus was approaching his final breath, he gave His Mother, to be our Mother too.  He asked the disciple that he loved, to take His Mother into his home.  We know that Jesus loves each and every one of us. That message was not just for that one disciple, it was for all of us.  Today we celebrate our Heavenly Mother’s entrance into her Heavenly home.  She is sitting, waiting, beside our brother Jesus for the day when we can all be there together.  Until that day let the world resound with many Ave’s as we acknowledge Mary the Queen of Heaven, as our mother and take her into our homes.

Recently Bishop Philip announced that our Pastoral Area, which will develop into our new Parish will be known as Our Lady Queen of Peace. I think this is an appropriate name for a Parish which includes within its boundary two weapons factories. Having worked at both of these, I fully understand how necessary they are for the protection of our Nation. I also hope and pray that by having Our Lady as a patron, that we never have to use the weapons manufactured there.

Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

August 15: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

CCC 411, 966-971, 974-975, 2853: Mary, the New Eve, assumed into heaven
CCC 773, 829, 967, 972: Mary, eschatological icon of the Church
CCC 2673-2679: at prayer with Mary

The Assumption of Mary: 12 Things to Know and Share – EWTN Great Britain

Please accompany in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
  • Those preparing for Baptism, either as an individual or as a parent.
  • Firefighters throughout the world battling to keep communities safe.
  • For students receiving their results; that they are rewarded for their efforts and that they have clarity of their next steps.
  • For all pregnant women, and those struggling to conceive, may God bless them with successful pregnancies, granting them good health for their babies and themselves.

Deacon Tony

15th August 2026

[1]&2 Pius Munificentissimus Deus 44 available from The Assumption of Mary: 12 Things to Know and Share – EWTN Great Britain accessed 14th August 2026.

 

[3] Marcus Maxwell, Revelation – The People’s Bible Commentary, (The Bible Reading Fellowship, Oxford, 1997)112-3

[4] James DG Dunn, The Theology of PAUL the Apostle, [T&T Clark, London, 1998]241.