Religious Education

Marylene Douglas
All students attending St Louis de Montfort's Aspendale have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a beautiful celebration of God’s love and the special place Mary holds in the life of the Church. So revered is Mary in the Catholic Church that it is actually a Holy Day of Obligation, one of only two, the other being Christmas Day.

On this day, we remember that at the end of her life on earth, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven. This is not only a truth about Mary, but also a message of hope for all of us who follow Jesus.

Mary’s Assumption shows us the reward of a faithful life lived in love and obedience to God. From the moment she said “yes” to the angel at the Annunciation, Mary trusted in God’s plan. She carried Jesus in her womb, raised him with love, and stayed near him, even at the foot of the Cross. Because of her deep faith and her closeness to Jesus, God gave her the gift of sharing fully in the glory of heaven. Her Assumption reminds us that our lives, too, are meant for heaven, and that if we remain faithful, we will share in the same joy.

This feast is also a reminder of the dignity of the human body. Mary was assumed into heaven not just in spirit, but also in her body. This teaches us that our bodies are sacred, created by God, and will be glorified in the resurrection. The Assumption gives us hope that death is not the end, but rather the doorway to eternal life.

Mary is also a sign of comfort and encouragement for us. She is our mother, given to us by Jesus, and she continues to pray for us. When we struggle, we can turn to Mary, who knows what it means to live a life of faith, hope, and love. Her Assumption assures us that she is close to God and close to us.

As we celebrate this feast, we are invited to reflect on our own journey of faith. Are we saying “yes” to God in our daily lives as Mary did? Are we living with hope, trusting that God’s promise of eternal life is true? The Assumption encourages us to look beyond the struggles of today and to place our hearts on the life that awaits us with God. The students at St Louis' were definitely very vocal when it came to singing "Mary said Yes, Yes, Yes, my Lord Your way is best!" at our whole school Mass. Hopefully this will transfer into their daily lives and say YES to God's call for them.

The Feast of the Assumption is, above all, a celebration of hope, love, and God’s promise of eternal life.