Wednesday August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption, a holyday of obligation. We believe as do Orthodox Christians and many Anglicans (Episcopalians) that Mary after her earthly life was complete was assumed body and soul into heaven. Even though this was a long held belief in Christendom, it was not until after broad consultation that on November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith: “We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.” As a feast it has been celebrated under different names, Commemoration of Mary, Dormition of Mary, Falling asleep of Mary and most commonly from the twelfth century The Assumption of Mary. As we celebrate the Assumption we pray “ that we may be found worthy of the promises of Christ” when we come to life’s end. Our Journey continues, Fr Karl