Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary might be referred to as the “graduation day” for all humanity, with Mary being considered the valedictorian of the class. I believe her valedictorian speech would be simply the last words of Mary found in Sacred Scriptures: “Do whatever He tells you.” 

The teachings of the Church hold that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. In the history of the Church, there was always a personal piety surrounding Mary’s unique position of being chosen to be the mother of God’s Son. Her life was prepared from the very beginning when she was conceived without Original Sin.

Mary’s life was enacted as a perfect instrument of God’s plan and established her as the New Eve; sin and death had no grip on her. Therefore, it is only logical that when she died, she received the fulfillment of God’s promise in Heaven.

In the earliest moments of the Church, disciples depicted her as simply falling asleep, the “dormition.” There is an early work located in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, of the disciples around the dormition Mary, which predates the declaration.

The doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1950. The doctrine is part of the oral tradition of the Church. The bishops of the world almost unanimously declared that this teaching was part of divine revelation. I know that many of our protestant brethren accuse us of worshipping Mary. However, Catholics are sophisticated enough to know that Mary’s special position comes not in treating her as divine, but rather in her relationship to Jesus and salvation history. Show me a family that does not have a special place for mother.

My father would have been the very first person to remind me and my sister about our respect and appreciation for mother. I do not believe that Jesus, her Son, would be any different. If I am blessed to make it to heaven, I am counting on Mary to welcome me.

There is a joke about St. Peter being chastised by the Lord as to why so many sinners have gotten into heaven. “Lord,” Peter says. “I close the gate, but your Mother keeps opening up the window.” I do not think one can have complete spirituality without a relationship with Mary.

St. John Paul II proudly displayed that big M on his coat of arms — his love for the Blessed Virgin Mary was second to none. Praying the rosary, Mary plays a prominent role in the Joyful mysteries, and of course, the Assumption and Queenship of Mary is part of the Glorious mysteries. The Hail Mary is usually a prayer that everyone knows; many have told me that they go to sleep reciting Hail Marys. Like Mother, her prayer brings comfort and a sense of peace.  

In a couple of months, I will be leading a pilgrimage to Poland. I lived there for three weeks in 1980 and 1983, and I returned as a bishop for World Youth Day with Pope Francis in 2016. I share with you that there were two places where I was emotionally touched: Auschwitz and the Black Madonna of Czestochowa.

At Auschwitz, the pain, suffering and evil inflicted on humanity was evident. It was here that St. Maximillian Kolbe offered his life for an inmate. St. Maximillian Kolbe was a devoted follower of Mary, “the Knights of Immaculata,” to Jesus through Mary. I was inspired when witnessing the faith of the Poles at Czestochowa and their devotion to Mary, who is considered to be the Queen of Poland.

On this Holy Day of Obligation, let us together ask our Mother to assist us in fulfilling her Son’s mandate to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  

Note: This blog originally appeared as the Aug. 15, 2023, "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.