From the Desk of Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach

God Bless You All

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people closest to my heart!

God bless you and your generous heart

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

Thursday, August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady into heaven.

It is a holy day of obligation.

Mass will be on Wednesday at 4:00 pm.

Thursday 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.

This week, we Venerate the Virgin Mother

The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holy faithful people of God joyfully express their veneration of the Virgin Mother.

They do so in the common liturgy and with thousands of different forms of piety, and the prophecy of Mary herself takes place in the same way:

“all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48),

because the Lord has raised His humble handmaiden.

Assumption into Heaven — Body & Soul

Her Assumption into heaven, in body and soul, is a divine privilege accorded to the Holy Mother of God for her particular union with Jesus. It is a corporal and spiritual union, which began with the Annunciation and matured throughout Mary’s life through her unique participation in the mystery of her Son.

Mary the first disciple

Mary always went with her Son: she followed Jesus and thus we say she was the first disciple. Our Lady’s existence unfolded like that of an ordinary woman of her time: she prayed, managed her family and home, and attended the synagogue….However, every daily action she performed was done in total union with Jesus.

At Calvary, this union culminated, in love, compassion, and in heartache. For this reason, God also gave her full participation in Jesus’ Resurrection. The body of the Blessed Mother was preserved from corruption like that of the Son.

Contemplate this Mystery

Today the Church invites us to contemplate this mystery; it shows us that God wishes to save the whole man, that is, to save soul and body.

Jesus rose with the body he had assumed from Mary; and He ascended to the Father with His transfigured humanity, with His body, a body like ours, but transfigured.

The Assumption of Mary, a human being, confirms our glorious fate. The wondrous reality of the Assumption of Mary reveals and confirms the unity of the human person and reminds us that we are called to serve and glorify God with our whole being, soul, and body.

May God bless you all.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan