August 15, Assumption of the Virgin Mary 

The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. — Psalm 45:10 

Mass Readings: Vigil: 1 Chronicles 15:3-4,15-16; 16:1-2 / 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 / Luke 11:27-28; Day: Revelation 11:19;12:1-6,10 / 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 / Luke 1:39-56 

Happy New Year 

Happy New Year! No, I haven’t misread the calendar. Did you know that in some religious orders the Assumption was the traditional day for receiving new assignments? Just as “having completed the course of her earthly life” (to quote the 1950 encyclical on the dogma of the Assumption) Mary began a new chapter in her life, so did members of those orders. And so can we. 

What has God the Father been asking us to do? Where has Jesus been inviting us to come and follow Him? How has the Holy Spirit been nudging us to go? Today we can take those first few tentative steps. We can turn the page and start that new chapter. Imitating Mary, we can say, “May it be done to me according to Your word.” 

Prayer: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now.