“Rejoice, Mary, full of grace.” Lk.1:39-56

We cannot understand the Assumption of Mary in a physical way. With the image of the Assumption in body and soul, it is meant that Mary has already reached fullness, identifying herself totally with God.

On this feast of the Assumption of Mary, an anecdote, in case it is useful. Someone who was doing Spiritual Exercises approached at some point a colloquium with Mary, to share with her what she was liking about God and His work in her. And then he came up with the idea that, in Christian spirituality, Mary is like “dessert.” That which completes a shared banquet at a party. And well, when we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven, it is as if God had given himself the pleasure of already having with Him, in His eternity, a creature that He filled with grace and who responded to Him with all her being. Thus we know that God’s creation came to consummation in one, who is The New Woman. Let us honor her today, who is for us, the “inspiring presence” of what we are called to be as followers of Jesus.