Grace to you and peace as we pray for a new birth of freedom in our beloved country.

This week, some people will be observing the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, which took place from August 15-18, 1969. It brought together almost half a million people for a festival of peace and music – three days that defined my generation.

But for us as Catholic people, we are characterized by the things that the Church teaches. So, August 15 is the day we observe as the Assumption of Mary.

According to our belief, the Assumption is the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life. She was assumed body and soul into blissful glory. Catholics believe that the decaying of the human body after death is a result of the deceased person’s sins during life. Therefore, since Mary was without sin, it makes sense for her to have been assumed bodily. It is marked as a holy day of obligation for all Catholics to attend Mass.

Growing in holiness is like training for the Olympics. We need someone to show us how we can live our faith well. Mary is that model of sanctity. She shows us how to be faithful to God’s will, living each day with confidence in God’s mercy and love.

At the nativity, in the public ministry of Jesus, and at the crucifixion, we see her unwavering trust. She allows the Lord to use her life to accomplish His plan for her and for all of us. 

In the preface of the Mass for the Assumption, we pray, “for today the virgin mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church’s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.” It is this image of holiness that we strive to imitate. In our office, at home, or in our community, we look for signs of God’s grace that call us to a better love of him and each other. A greater awareness of God is a sign of our conversion of heart that lives the lessons Mary teaches.

There is an ancient Catholic tradition that on August 15, Ferragosto, (the holidays of Emperor Augustus or Feriae Augusti), healing can be found in the waters of the sea. Some have made a pilgrimage to the beach on this day, either to swim or to take water home as they pray for the sick and seek healing for them and themselves.

For hundreds of years, Catholic parishes in coastal cities have participated in the tradition of blessing the sea and praying for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The practice dates to 15th century Italy and is believed to have begun when a bishop traveled by sea during a storm. He threw his pastoral ring into the ocean and calmed the waters. Travel by sea was a dangerous means of transportation. Even today, it carries risks. For this reason, it is fitting to pray for safe ocean travel to Mary, Star of the Sea — Stella Maris — a medieval title that emphasizes Mary’s role as a “guiding star” for those pursuing Christ. She is one of the patrons of the ocean for keeping us safe as we travel.

If you are spending the day at the seashore, remember your loved ones who are sick when you are attending Mass in the morning.