Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: At the Vigil Mass (August 14, 2025)

In my next blog for Mass during the Day, I will reflect more on the theology of the Church’s dogma of the Assumption of Mary. For this blog on the Vigil Mass, I want to share a simple thought for each of the three readings.

In the First Reading from the First Book of Chronicles, we see worship in Jerusalem led by David, who invites the Israelites to revere the sacred Ark of God, also known as the Ark of the Covenant – the gold-covered wooden chest that contains the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The ark is the most sacred artifact of the people of Israel because God manifested himself to Moses in this physical way. The ark contained the very presence of God.

Jesus’ mother Mary is often referred to as the Ark of the Covenant, and she is named as such in the Litany of Mary. This is an appropriate honorific because she literally contained the very presence of the Son of God within her own womb.

The Second Reading from First Corinthians is proclaimed during funerals at the Mass of Christian Burial.

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The proclamation of this reading during this Vigil Mass is an acknowledgment of how Mary, through her Assumption, shares in the Easter victory of her Son, who conquered death and fulfilled his promise of eternal life. 

Lastly, in the very brief passage from the Gospel of Luke, a woman in the crowd is honoring Jesus by calling his mother “blessed.” Jesus returns that blessing back to this unnamed woman when he says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” In other words, Mary is the first disciple, who indeed heard God’s word and observed it humbly. Her “Yes” at the Annunciation demonstrated her total trust in God, who would utilize her faith to bring salvation to the world.

Mary as the Ark of the Covenant. Mary’s sharing in her Son’s victory over death. Mary as the First Disciple, whose total devotion to God is a model for our own discipleship. These are images that help us understand the depth of the Church’s dogma on the Assumption of Mary. We will reflect on that depth in the blog for Mass during the Day.