from victim to victor
"God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name." —Luke 1:49
In much of the Western world, this date is associated with victory, the end of World War II. In Catholic liturgical tradition, today's celebration of Mary being taken to heaven is associated with the ultimate victory: Jesus' victory over death and our victory over death through faith in Jesus. United with Jesus, the Church is "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Rv 12:1). In Jesus, the Church has total victory over Satan, the "huge dragon" (Rv 12:3); Mary and all those living their Baptisms share in this victory. Today's celebration of Mary's assumption into heaven proclaims the total victory of Jesus. "He has shown might with His arm; He has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts. He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places" (Lk 1:51-52).
Today, on this holy day, the Lord wants to transform you from victim to victor. Today, you can be free from the sins, bitterness, resentments, unforgiveness, self-hatred, and compulsions which have victimized you. Today, in Jesus, you can win victories you had never thought you would win. Mary, assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Prayer: Father, make me the conqueror of the world (1 Jn 5:5).
Promise: "Christ must reign until God has put all enemies under His feet." —1 Cor 15:25
Praise: Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption as a dogma of the Catholic Church in 1950. Mary's Assumption into heaven, body and soul, foreshadows the resurrection of our own bodies.
Reference: (For a related teaching on The Assumption of Mary, order, listen to, or download our CD 81-1 or DVD 81 on our website.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 15, 2019
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