Celebrating the Assumption of Mary as a Family

Some days in the Liturgical season, by their cultural and religious nature, lend themselves more towards celebrating, such as Christmas and Easter, than others. However, it seems a missed opportunity not to find some way to acknowledge, and yes celebrate, every Solemnity, Memorial, or Feast in the Catholic Church. For families, feast days can offer beautiful teachable moments, special time set apart for living our faith, and even the creation of lifetime memories. This month, the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, commemorating the entry of Mary into heaven—body and soul.  The Assumption falls into the category of “Solemnity,” which means it is among the highest rank feast days celebrating a mystery of faith. 

The belief that Mary’s body (as well as her soul) was “assumed” into heaven was defined as a dogma (core belief of the faith) by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, but belief in the Assumption of Mary dates to the earliest centuries of the Church. Pope Pius XII did not establish a new doctrine but merely confirmed the universal belief of early Christianity, declaring it to be revealed by God through the means of Apostolic tradition.  

Saint John Damascene, in one of his sermons, shares the same general belief of all Christianity: 

“Your sacred and happy soul, as nature will have it, was separated in death from your most blessed and immaculate body; and although the body was duly interred, it did not remain in the state of death, neither was it dissolved by decay....Your most pure and sinless body was not left on earth but you were transferred to your heavenly throne, O Lady, Queen, and Mother of God in truth." 

One important distinction between what it means to ascend into heaven versus being assumed::  Jesus Christ, ascended into heaven after His Resurrection, by His own power, however, Mary was "assumed" or taken up into heaven by God.  

Ideas for Celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 

Attend Mass 

The Catholic Church in the United States marks the Assumption as one of four holy days of obligation in 2023. Many families may still have children on school summer vacation, which may make it easier to attend Mass on August 15th. Make it an adventure, use MassTimes.org to find a daily Mass at a different church, maybe there is even a St. Mary of the Assumption church near you—turn the day into a field trip, or at least an opportunity to try a new restaurant for breakfast! 

Pray The Glorious Mysteries 

Although the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are typically prayed on Tuesdays, consider instead praying the Glorious Mysteries, which include the Assumption of Mary as well as the Coronation of Mary, which the Church celebrates every year on August 22nd.  Take a moment to truly reflect on the gloriousness of this moment in Mary’s life, and the life of the Church. If you are praying with others, share your thoughts; consider repeating this step for the Coronation as well. 

Celebrations Around the World

Did you know Assumption Day is a public holiday in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, France, parts of Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland?. In some countries, Assumption celebrations are accompanied by festivals, colorful street processions, fireworks, and brilliant pageantry.  Many countries also include in their Assumption celebrations the blessing of the summer harvest. 

At the Italian Festa dell’Assunta people would eat a traditional fish lunch in restaurants. To celebrate the abundant harvest, typical dishes at Ferragosto include wheat or spelt, as well as fresh fruit and roasted meats. Desserts include cookies with anise seed icing. 

In Poland, the day is known as the Feast of Our Lady of Herbs, for the peasants take to church sweet-smelling bouquets of their finest blossoms mixed with the green of herbs. Children sing hymns at church, and later their parents enjoyed dancing to traditional Polish music.  

Assumption Day is a national holiday in France. On this day each year, religious processions take place across the country. The tradition involves pilgrims attending Mass and then carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary in the streets and around the neighborhood. In Paris, the procession includes a silver statue of the Virgin Mary found in Notre-Dame Cathedral. Gratefully, this tradition was able to continue following the April 2019 fire with the same statue as it was rescued from the flames.  

Consider some unique and fun ways to incorporate these traditions from across the globe into your family’s Assumption celebration. 

Plant a Mary Garden, Visit One, or Plan Yours for Next Year 

Plan a garden based on the many flowers associated with Mary, such as roses, marigolds, lily, iris, periwinkle, and lady slipper. You don’t have to have your own garden to include flowers in your Assumption décor; visit a florist and make a “Mary Bouquet.” Your family may wish to present this bouquet to Mary after Mass or visit a Marian Shrine to bring your offering.  

Create a crown of flowers to crown a Mary statue in your home, garden, or parish. Crowning Mary is typically a May tradition, but certainly, honoring Mary in this simple, yet beautiful way should not be kept to just one month a year. 

Get Crafty 

Cloud play dough:  

Soft, squishy, sometimes colorful, play dough is often a childhood favorite and there are literally over 50 recipes for making versions at home. Since art depicting the Assumption of Mary often includes clouds, why not create “cloud play dough?” This soft-as-a-cloud recipe uses only two ingredients: 1 part conditioner; 2 parts corn flour/corn starch, and food coloring (optional). 

Assumption Triptych:   

A triptych is an artwork or relief carving consisting of three pieces or panels. Often used to impart narrative, create a sequence, or show different elements of the same subject matter. 

Lacy, at Catholic Icing, provides instructions (and examples) for creating an Assumption Triptych with the Immaculate Conception on the left, the Assumption of Mary in the middle, and Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth on the right. 

Faux Stained-Glass Window:  

Create a stained-glass window (or mosaic) to retell the story of Mary’s Assumption. To create this homemade window decoupage colorful tissue paper onto wax paper using watered-down glue; your “window” can then be hung in an actual window for light to penetrate through as it does in the church. For a mosaic effect, build your image on colored construction paper—draw the outlines of your windows with a black marker; if you’d like a 3D effect, glue dark yarn along your drawn lines then fill in the spaces with torn or cut-out shapes. Be creative, try using recycled materials from around your home. 

A “Dad joke” for this Marian Feast 

 
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are sitting around the kitchen table when Mary announces, “When I die, I am going into heaven—body and soul.” Joseph looks kindly yet hesitantly at his wife and responds, “Well, that’s quite an assumption, Mary.” 

Scavenger Hunt, Mary Feast Table, and more 

In addition to the many ideas offered above, the Elizabeth Clare blog includes several more, including step-by-step instructions on conducting an Assumption of Mary Scavenger Hunt! She also includes a wonderful book list for sharing the gift of this day through story. Read more here: www.elizabethclareblog.com/celebrating-the-assumption-of-mary.