FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:
As I mentioned at a couple of Masses last weekend, this weekend we get a “two-fer”. Since the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on August 15th, falls on a Sunday this year, faithful have the chance to fulfill their Sunday obligation as well as their “Assumption” obligation. As you know, all Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on every Sunday during the year. However, in addition to the Sunday obligation, there are also the “holy days of obligation” that come up during the year. Depending on the year, there can be as many as five holy days of obligation: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug 15), Feast of All Saints (Nov 1), Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec 8), Christmas Day (Dec 25) and the Solemnity of the Mother of God (Jan 1).
Moreover, some years ago, the United States bishops, in an effort to make it easier for the faithful to fulfill their Sunday and holyday obligations, decided that for certain feast days which fall on a Saturday or Monday, the faithful would not be obligated to attend Mass on those occasions. Whether or not a holy day requires obligatory attendance depends on the feast day, on the year and on what day of the week the particular feast day falls. Thus, for example in 2022, Mary, the Mother of God, which falls on Saturday, Jan 1, 2022 will not be a holy day of obligation. Likewise, the Assumption of Mary on Aug 15, 2022 falls on a Monday, and will not be a holy day of obligation.
The Assumption is a wonderful feast because we not only honor the Blessed Virgin Mary for being assumed body and soul into heaven, but also we aspire someday to be united with God and all the angels and saints in heaven, spiritually and bodily. We are reminded from the Catechism (no. 966) that Mary’s Assumption anticipates the “resurrection of all members of his Body.” This means all members of the Body of Christ, that is, all of us, have the awesome gift of being resurrected bodily and spiritually. The gift of the resurrection of the body and soul that awaits us should move us to use our bodies and spirits well in this life to prepare for the life to come. It should be a good reminder that our bodies and souls ultimately do not belong to us. Our bodies and souls are gifts from God. They help us to be Our Lord’s feet, heart, hands, ears, eyes and mouth so that we can bring others to Him.
The awareness that our bodies and souls ultimately belong to God should move us to think twice or thrice about choosing to do something sinful to them, either temporarily or permanently. On the one hand, I am referring to the intrinsic evil of contraception and sterilization. These are never acceptable according to Church teaching. On the other hand, I am also referring to having oneself marked permanently with a tattoo. It is true that Church teaching does not condemn tattoos. Still, one should discern the reason for getting a tattoo. Is it to bring attention to oneself? Is it to remind oneself of a person or an important event in one’s life? If it’s the former, then it seems to me that is not a good reason to get a tattoo. If it’s the latter, wouldn’t it be easier to have a photograph or another reminder of said event or person for easy reference, rather than trying to find it on one’s body? Granted, this is only my opinion. It is not Church teaching. Nonetheless, the overall governing principle for such a decision should be two-fold: our bodies and souls belong to God and they are to be given back to Him for His greater honor and glory.
On this Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, may we all give thanks to God for our bodies and souls and ask Him to help us, through Saint Mary’s intercession, to use our bodies and souls for His greater honor and glory to build up the Body of Christ. May you have a most blessed week!
In Christ,
Father Berg
