Celebrating the Assumption of Mary

Wednesday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, celebrating that God raised the Virgin Mary, body and soul, to the glories of heaven at the end of her earthly journey. Believers share why they commemorate the Assumption.
“Every year I celebrate The Assumption and everything I pray for comes to pass,” says Samuel Bigirwa Kaliisa, a local government commissioner. In his 40s,Kaliisa is a devout Catholic that believes and testifies about Virgin Mary’s wonders For three years, he has travelled from Uganda toOur Lady of Kibeho in Rwanda a few days before August 15, to commemorate the day on which Mary was taken in to heaven to seek pardon for the faithful.
Spending the eve of The Assumption singing and calling for Mary’s intervention as it was at the wedding in Cana. Kaliisa says for the times he has been to Kibeho for the day’s celebrations he has lived to witness his family members’ healing n from sickness to prosperity in different areas.
Answered prayers
“From my friend’s testimony of what had happened after attending prayers on this day, with faith I took my turn to this apparition site in 2015. Last year, I prayed for a number of things one of which was a promotion which I had applied for a couple of months before the Assumption. While on my way from Kibeho around Masaka town I received a call from the personal secretary to the minister of Local Government telling me to pick up my appointment letter for my new post,’’ Kaliisa explains.
To Kaliisa Commemorating this day is an investment he reaps from year after year.

Personal supplication
My experience is almost not unique from Kaliisa’s. When I had no job, I was encouraged by Fr Raymond Kalanzi to maximise the graces we obtain on The Assumption. I had been alsoo praying for providence that my mother’s house be complete and I have not been disappointed.
During one of the overnights, Rev Fr Joseph Luzindana, youth chaplain of Kampala Archdiocese advised us to say the rosary and make our supplications on the that Day because Mother Mary is taken to heaven and her intercession is more powerful. I have since attended overnight prayers every August 14, made my prayer requests at Kiwamirembe and my life has never been the same.

Be humble to God’s will
Doreen Nshabohurira, youth coordinator, Kigezi-Kampala Catholic Residents’ Association says this day important to whoever invokes the Virgin Mary’s divine intervention in their day to day life benefits spiritually.
“This day highlights the need for believers to accept God’s will into their daily lives as Mary did when she accepted to be Jesus’ mother , great things will then happen to us,’’ Nshabohurira says.
Adding, commemorating the Assumption Day is a reflection that Mary’s end is the promise of our beginning. Mary who is the Ark of the New Covenant, the Mother of the Jesus is taken to heaven on this day which is a sign of our hope that we, through Christ and the intercession of Mary we shall be brought to life.”

Channel of God
Rev Fr Luzidana, says youth need to know that for centuries Mother Mary has been revealing herself mostly to young men and women. And for all the apparitions in France, Germany, Portugal, and Rwanda youths are mostly her channel of declaration to the rest of the world.
For example, the three girls in Kibeho Rwanda Natalie, Marie Claire and Alphonsine. The three shepherds Lucia Santos Jacinta and Francisco in Poland. Maximin Girand and Melanie Calval in Lasulette France
Fr Luzidana explains on this day the church honours Mother Mary as a mother to the church because while at calvary, Jesus told John; “this is your mother” and to Mary: “this is your son”. This implies that she is a mother to all those that believe in her son.

Reflections from the Bible
Much as this day is not reflected in the bible, Fr. Luzidana explains that the Church has a dogma which is a belief without doubt.
“Jesus was conceived without original sin and so was Mary because God is so pure He cannot mix with impurity. Just like you cannot put milk in a contaminated container,’’ he explains.
Elaborating on biblical scriptures that laid foundation for the commemoration of Assumption Day, John 2:1-12 at the wedding in Cana, Mary instructed the disciples to do whatever Jesus told them. This is evidence that Mother Mary pleads for all the faithful to her son and by God’s mercy, they get what they pray for.
“In the book of Revelations the woman said to have defeated the serpent when it had come to attack Jesus after his birth was Mary. Through her intercession on this day, we need to invoke her divine power daily,’’ he advises.