"Celebrate Our Lady in August"

August 4, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

August is a rather busy month.  School is gearing up.  It seems to start earlier every year.  I guess there are probably different points of view about that, depending upon whether you are a student or a parent…

There are also three excellent feasts of Our Lady during August.  The first is August 5—The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.  This is the oldest church dedicated to Our Lady in the west.  It was miraculously “planned” by a snowfall in Rome during August 352. The miracle, also known as Our Lady of the Snows, led to the building of the massive basilica. The Council of Ephesus (432) defined Mary as the Mother of God.  With that the basilica was enlarged.  Subsequent additions over the centuries have given us the ponderous edifice we now behold as one of the major basilicas in Rome.  The manger, traditionally believed to be the one in which Mary placed Jesus in Bethlehem, is venerated under the high altar of the basilica.

The second day honoring Our Lady in August is the celebration of her Assumption on August 15.  The day honors the great prerogative of Mary that she was assumed, body and soul, into heaven. This year, because the Solemnity occurs on a Saturday, we will not keep it as a day of obligation.  Of course, even though an “obligation” is not involved this year, I’m sure it would be great for us to make the extra effort to honor the Mother of God by attending Mass that day anyway.  The Assumption is usually a day on which prayers are offered for the blessing of the harvest.  Flowers and wine are often blessed this day as well.

Rounding out the month in honor to the Blessed Mother we come to August 22 and the celebration of the Queen ship of Mary.  This feast, of course, recognizes what God has done to the highest honor of our race—she is the Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Through Mary, we receive the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.  God loves her in a special and unique way and has given her to us so that we may love her and honor her too.

It’s a good month to remember Mary’s life and invoke her care and maternal protection in our lives.  She is the first to receive the eternal gifts of heavenly bliss that are meant for all of us through Jesus.  One day, we pray, we’ll all be one with Jesus in heaven.

Enjoy these great days of summer.  Say a rosary when you take your walks outside…

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend William Patrick Callahan

Archdiocesan Administrator
Archdiocese of Milwaukee

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