Growing up, I have always admired my grandmother’s devotion to the Virgin Mary. Every morning, she would kneel before her statue and say her Rosary. Her piety to the Mother of God was an inspiration to me. I remember her telling me stories about the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, and how she taught the three children to pray for the conversion of sinners and the peace of the world.
As a child, I would often accompany my grandmother to church to attend the novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I would see how she would light candles in front of the image of the Blessed Virgin and offer her intentions. With her soft voice, she would recite the prayers of the novena with such devotion and love. It was a sight to behold, and it left a deep impression in my heart.
As I grew older and learned more about my Catholic faith, I came to realize the significance of the devotion of my grandmother to the Virgin Mary. She knew that the Blessed Mother is the quickest and most effective way to reach her Son, Jesus Christ. By entrusting her prayers to Our Lady, she was assured that her petitions would be heard and answered. Mary, as the Mother of God, has a unique role in our salvation, for it was through her fiat that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
One of the highlights of my grandmother’s Marian devotion was her celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady. On August 15th, we would attend Mass together and offer flowers to the statue of the Blessed Virgin. My grandmother would insist that we recite the Rosary and participate in the procession around the church. She would explain to me that the Assumption is an important event in the life of the Church, for it shows us that Mary is not only the Mother of God but also the Queen of Heaven and Earth.
The Assumption of Our Lady is the belief that Mary was taken up body and soul into Heaven. This truth was defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950, but its origins can be traced back to the early Church. The liturgy and prayers of the Church reflect the belief in the Assumption, and it is celebrated as a solemnity, a feast that ranks higher than all other Marian feasts. The dogma of the Assumption reminds us of the dignity of Mary, who was free from original sin and remained so throughout her life. It also confirms the hope that we have as Christians, that we too shall rise with Christ and share in His glory.
My grandmother’s devotion to the Virgin Mary has been a constant reminder to me of the importance of our relationship with Our Lady. Mary is not an obstacle to Christ, but rather the way that leads us to Him. She points to her Son and intercedes for us before the throne of God. Her purity and holiness inspire us to live virtuous lives and to imitate her humility and obedience to God’s will.
As we celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady, let us ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin to help us grow closer to Christ. Let us offer our intentions and thanksgiving to God for the gift of Mary, who is our Mother and Queen. And let us remember the example of my grandmother, who showed us how to love and honor the Mother of God with all our hearts.