Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, our Mother.  We see Mary as the exemplar of faithfulness, purity, humility, and obedience – all of which allow her to play such an important role in our salvation.  We see Mary enduring that “piercing of the heart” with a spirit of sacrifice and self-denial.  We see Mary giving herself fully to God.

And as we strive to give ourselves fully to God maybe a great place to start is to join Mary in the prayer that we hear her recite in today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-56) – “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant”.