Saint John the Baptist

A podcast from Saint John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Fort Lauderdale

Listen

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On August 15, the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This belief in the Assumption is one of the four dogmas of the Catholic Church regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Notes

  • We have a welcome back for Religious Education and Book Extravaganza on Sunday, August 25 after the 9am Mass. Join us for coffee and light refreshments as we welcome back our religious education team, students and families. Parents of the 2024-2025 religious education students will have an opportunity to sign up early for committees for the coming year.
  • During the summer we organized our closets all around the parish and found an abundance of books and holy cards. We like to share these books and holy cards with our families and parishioners, all are welcome to take and share.
  • Please feel free to bring donations of pantry items (soups, canned goods, pasta) as well as baby goods for our families and friends in need. It is greatly appreciated.
  • OCIA classes to start in October! Request more information on our website.
  • School of Spirituality and Prayer every Monday at 2:00pm in the parish hall. All are welcome to join in.
  • Assumption Mass Times: Vigil Mass Wednesday, August 14 5:00pm and Thursday, August 15 8:45am and 12:00pm
  • Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.
  • Dogmatic Proclamation: Defined as a dogma of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the Encyclical Munificentissimus Deus.
  • Theological Importance: Reflects the belief in Mary's special participation in her Son's Resurrection and her purity as being free from sin.
  • Preservation from Corruption: Catholic teaching holds that because Mary was free from original sin (Immaculate Conception), she was also preserved from the corruption of the grave, a grace granted to her due to her unique role as the Mother of God.
  • Development of the Doctrine: The belief in Mary's Assumption dates back to the early centuries of the Church. While it was part of the Church's Tradition for many centuries, it wasn't defined as a dogma until 1950. The proclamation was made during a time of global unrest (post-World War II), symbolizing hope and the ultimate victory of good over evil.