The Assumption of Mary

A very special feast today for all Catholics and Maltese as we commemorate today the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. It was in 1950 that Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary through his encyclical 'Munificentissimus Deus.' There was also a strong tradition held that Mary died and was buried, but when the apostles opened her grave, her body was gone, which led to the belief that her body was taken up body and soul in a mysterious way. The church of the East in fact used to celebrate the feast of the 'Death and Assumption of Mary,' precisely on August 15, also known as the Dormition (the sleeping of Mary) but the Western church celebrated only the Assumption of Mary on the same date. 

The Cathedral Parish all lit up with the statue of Mary entering the main door.

Processions are held on the evening of August 15 in 8 different churches in Malta and one in Gozo, celebrating the feast of the Assumption. These photos were taken in 2006 at the Cathedral parish in Victoria, Gozo, as the statue of Mary is taken out of the church, and later in the evening as it was being brought in with festive lights, hymns, marching bands and fireworks in the background. Stay tuned for many more photos in this blog of Maltese churches and feast decorations over the next 2 weeks.