Today the Church celebrates the great Marian solemnity of the Assumption: “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”. Defined as dogma by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, this truth of the faith continues to bear abundant spiritual fruit in the life of the Church.
Today’s Gospel helps us understand why Mary was assumed into heaven. Two virtues stand out in particular: her humility and her faith. During her visit to Elizabeth, Mary sings the Magnificat, a hymn that reveals the secret of her greatness. Mary does not exalt herself; she acknowledges that it is God who has done great things for her. She recognizes herself as the Lord’s humble servant. “He has looked upon the humility of his servant”, he proclaims, and “exalts the humble".
Mary did not lift herself up to heaven; it was God who lifted her up. Her humility made her receptive to God’s grace and action. The proud seek to exalt themselves, and in doing so, they become incapable of being lifted up by God. The humble, on the other hand, allow themselves to be lifted up by Him.
G. K. Chesterton once wrote that “Angels can fly because they don’t take themselves too seriously”. Pride weighs us down; humility gives us wings. It is no coincidence that Fra Angelico painted angels with extraordinary lightness, almost like butterflies. The Assumption reminds us that God exalts the humble and lifts up those who surrender themselves completely into His hands.
Mary's faith is equally central to today's celebration. Pope Benedict XVI observed that Mary's true greatness lies in her faith. Even before Mary sang the Magnificat, Isabel had already recognized this greatness: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!””. But Isabel goes even further and identifies the deepest reason for Mary’s blessedness: “Blessed is she who has believed, for what the Lord has told her will be fulfilled.".
Mary’s faith was a total commitment to God’s plan, a complete surrender of herself into His hands. Her faith allowed God’s greatness to work within her. Because she believed, God worked wonders in her life, culminating in her assumption into the glory of Heaven.
Mary was taken up into heaven to be with God forever. Heaven is where God is. To be in heaven is to be with God. And in God there is room for all of us. As we celebrate this solemnity, we can ask Our Lady to intercede for us, so that we may grow in humility and faith—qualities that allow God to accomplish great things in our lives.
