A feast of great hope

Fourteen years ago today, before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and in the presence of the Church, I professed the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for life.  As you can see, my final profession took place on this beautiful feast day - the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into Heaven. 

In 1950 The Assumption of the Blessed Mother into Heaven was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII as a dogma of the Catholic Church.  As Catholics we are required to believe this mystery.  Mary, who was conceived in the womb of her mother without the stain of Original Sin, did not have to suffer the pains of death or bodily decay.  Her earthly life did end but her body was not put into the ground - she was taken up, body and soul, into Heaven.  There she kneels before her Son in eternal adoration.

Making final vows on the Feast of the Assumption is a tradition with many religious communities.  I did so in the Church named after her - the Church of the Immaculate Conception.  I felt surrounded by her love and her joy.

At Mass today our pastor said this feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother is a feast of great hope.  Mary's resurrected body is now in Heaven with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Some day our bodies too, if we die in the state of grace,  will be resurrected and live for all eternity in Heaven.   That gives us great hope - and as you know, I am a Sister of Jesus our Hope!

Today and always may our Blessed Mother favor you with many graces as you prepare to meet her and her Son in the life to come.