August 15th
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We hear today of a great sign: a woman clothed with the sun, carrying her newborn child. It is a frightening sign: for the dragon stands ready to devour the child. Yet the woman protects the fruit of her womb and takes him safely to heaven.

The Blessed Virgin Mary cares for all children, even us. Just as she nurtured the Son of the Living God within her womb for nine months, so for all eternity she cares for his brothers and sisters as Mother of the Church and Mother of all Christians. As a mother she is a model for all mothers: for the single mother who fears the shame, for the immigrant mother who knows no rest, for the homeless mother who gives birth far from her family: Mary is the Mother of all who would love her Son and the sons and daughters of every human being.

Imagine the joy Mary felt as she ran to the hill country to share with her cousin the good news of great joy that she carried the child Jesus in her womb. Imagine the great joy of Elizabeth, and even of the child in her womb, who danced for joy that the Mother of her Lord would come to be with her.

We may rejoice as well.

For Mary comes to us in every time of temptation and trouble. She is interceding for us with her Son. For she wishes to share the joy of Christ with each one of us. She abides with us and gives wings to our prayers that they might reach the presence of the one through whom all things were made and the author of the Gospel of Life.

Even at the hour of our death, Mary is there, gently leading us home. For she knows that from the moment of our conception until the last breath has left our bodies, we are the temple of God's Holy Spirit and an instrument of his love. Like any mother, she wants only the best for her children. And so she guides us gently home at the hour of our death to rest in God's heavenly kingdom, in the presence of eternal perfect peace.


O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life: Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.

A culture of life – where every human life is protected, respected and celebrated—begins with a personal decision to respect the dignity of others. But it will take much more than that. We must bear this culture to others through our words and actions, and work for public policies that support human life and human dignity. Above all, we must pray.
-Secretariat for Pro-life Activities, "You are a Thought of God," Respect Life Program flier, 2002.


OLDER PEOPLE are a special presence of God among us. This is so, not only because old age brings wisdom, (it does not always do so), but because the twilight of life is a time of extreme refinement. The spirit becomes humble. There are fewer idols. False illusions and false promises crumble and this enables older people to become more perceptive. Old age can be a very dark hour, but for this very reason, it can also be the eve that ushers in life's Eternal Dawn.