The central solemnity of the month of August is the Assumption of the Holy Virgin to the Heaven.

A solemnity which reminds us of the final goal, task of our life. During this year of the Jubilee of Mercy we have received many occasions to reflect  on God’s mercy. We, every month, have been following the words given by Pope Francis to live fully the experience of mercy. This month the words are openness and maturity. ”openness is honesty and rectitude, consistency and absolute sincerity with regard both to ourselves and to God. An honest and open person does not act virtuously only when he or she is being watched; honest persons have no fear of being caught, since they never betray the trust of others. An honest person is never domineering like the “wicked servant” (cf. Mt24:48-51), with regard to the persons or matters entrusted to his or her care. Honesty is the foundation on which all other qualities rest.”  

It is also an encouragement  to work on one of our resolutions about the prevention and  fight against corruption which “aggravates social inequality, and retards socio-economic development and true democracy. It undermines trust among individuals, national and international institutions, promotes social injustice with the most vulnerable (women, youth, and poor) as victims. It creates favorable conditions for social unrest.” In this year  of the Jubilee of Mercy the spiritual and corporal works of mercy support our commitment. As Pope Francis, addressing the  young in Krakow during the YWD, stated  “we didn’t come into this world to  “vegetate”, to take it easy, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on.  No, we came for another reason: to leave a mark.” And such task gives us maturity which “ is the quest to achieve balance and harmony in our physical, mental and spiritual gifts. It is the goal and outcome of a never-ending process of development which has nothing to do with age.”

Prayer to the Assumption

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the Queen of Heaven and earth. As you tasted the bitterness of pain and sorrow with your Son on earth, you now enjoy eternal bliss with Him in Heaven.

Loving Queen, intercede for us in our needs. We praise Jesus for giving us such a loving mother. O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.Amen.

Further reading

Evangelii  Gaudium 165 -172