Today is Monday, the day of the week we traditionally pray the Joyful Mysteries. Being that it is also the Feast of the Assumption, we may consider praying the Glorious Mysteries and take a few minutes more to consider the Fourth Mystery, the Assumption of Mary.

According to Tradition, Catholics believe that Mary, because of her purity and as the mother of Jesus, was taken up body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. This ancient belief has roots in Liturgical feasts honoring Mary’s Assumption in Syria by the sixth century and common among all Christian Communities by the eighth.

Some Scripture references to support the Assumption of Mary may be found in:

• Psalm 132–“Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might;”
• Isaiah 60:13–“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify where my feet rest;“
• Revelation 12:6–“and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.”

Scripture also says that others, such as Elijah and Enoch, were assumed. And we are promised the Resurrection at the end of times. Although we will not be assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of our life on earth, our bodies will raise and reunite with our soul and the Lord when this world ceases to exist.