August 16, 2026 Assumption Sunday
August 16, 2026
Assumption Sunday
In lieu of a sermon, I thought I would give everyone a break and just give a little catechism on the Assumption of Our Lady.
For the Liberal Catholic Church, it is not so much a doctrine or dogma, as it is a tradition. Depending on the branch, it is sometimes referred to as a teaching. Thus, from our point of view, it is an optional belief.
It is one of those “bone-of-contentions” that non-Catholics have with Catholics. The reason this is so, is because it is not anywhere I the Bible. But, of course, there is a great deal of Tradition, dogma, doctrine, teachings, and theology that is not in the Bible. There is a great deal of Tradition, dogma, doctrine, teachings, and theology that is believed in by both Catholics and non that is not in the Bible. This has been causes of separation of various groups since the time of the last Apostles walked the earth. Even the Apostles did not all agree.
However, ….. let us just stick to what we believe.
The Canonical books do not record Mary’s death, burial, or bodily transfer into heaven. There are, however, some passages of the non-canonical books that make reference to this. I will not go into the here, but the information can be easily found on the internet. It can be surmised that the Church has taken some of the teachings on the topic from them. There is reference in the Book of Revelation 12 that the Church generally believes is referring to Mary.
The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD affirmed the belief of her Assumption. Since roughly the Sixth Century, the Church has taught that at the end of her time on earth, Mary was taken up—body and soul—into heaven. There, she sits at her Son’s right hand, as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Non-Catholics are quick to point out that only Christ ascended into heaven, and they would be correct to say that. However, we do not teach that Mary “ascended” into heaven, because only Christ could and did do that – because he is God. However, what we do say is that Mary was “assumed” into heaven. Assumed as in, she was taken up to heaven by Christ. Assumed means that she was brought up to heaven, meaning not by her own power because she is not God and therefore she could not do so. Ascended and Assumed, therefore, are two different things.
As I said, around the Sixth Century is approximately when the teaching of the Assumption started to be circulated. In the Eight Century – thought to be around the time of Pope Adrian – is when the term “Assumption” was applied to a feast day in her honor under this title. However, Tradition states that this was something that was passed on from the teachings of the Apostles. There has never been found or even indicated in any writings of there being any bodily remains nor of a tomb or burial site.
As Liberal Catholics, we have always had a teaching on her Assumption since the founding of the denomination in 1916. However, we have never made it any binding teaching. The Roman Catholic Church, however, declared it a dogma in 1950, by Pope Pius the XII.
I will end by saying that it stands to reason that Our Lady being the mother of Christ, that he would not allow her body to know decay. She carried the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity in her womb, therefore she carried part of God physically within her. It is unfathomable that she would be allowed to decay in any way.
Let us pray.
In today’s Gospel we read of Our Lady, after hearing the Angel’s words, she sets out to visit her cousin Elizabeth to stay with her and help her through the remainder of her pregnancy. We pray that we respond in equal faith each and every day. We pray to the Lord.
Today we honour the Virgin Mary and celebrate her Assumption into Heaven, body and soul. We ask that she protect all in our parish and that she beseech her beloved son, Jesus, to bestow on us the grace to love him more dearly and follow him more nearly in our daily lives. We pray to the Lord.
Just as Mary came to the help of the expectant Elizabeth, we pray that she intercedes for all those who are currently pregnant that they too, through her intercession, deliver their babies safely, in good health and with joy. We pray to the Lord.
On this great feast of the Mother of God, we remember all mothers and ask the Lord to bless them in their wonderful vocation. We pray to the Lord.
As we celebrate this feast of Mary, we pray that all family homes experience healing, peace, and forgiveness. We pray to the Lord.
Remembering that Mary is our mother also, we beseech her that she look with compassion on our deceased loved ones and bring them to share their promised reward of eternal life with Jesus, her Son. We pray to the Lord.
We pray to God for an increase of priests, deacons, and religious for our denomination to bring the Good News to all peoples without prejudice. We pray to the Lord.
We pray that those with generous means may be led to our small church and give generously to our mission so that we may continue to be a church open to all peoples. We pray to the Lord.
For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.
We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.
Father God, if you were to send your Angel to any of us here today, most of us would likely think it a joke, maybe even a hallucination, or even worse, find ourselves on a psychiatric sofa. Mary, although puzzled at first – pondered all these things in her heart - immediately set out, not to a psychiatrist, but to help her cousin Elizabeth. When she arrives at Elizabeth’s home, she also was equally surprised. Two Angelic appearances, two ladies who give birth to your promised Messenger and Messiah.
As we receive a midyear reminder of the story leading to the birth of Our Lord, we ask that we too may be reminded of the reality of Assumption and what it should mean to us in our day. We pray that you will guide our lives in the path that will fulfill your will. We often, with our gift of free will, make decisions that do not meet what you wish for our lives. Send your Holy Angels into our lives that, when needed, follow the leading of your Angels and change the path of our lives and live more according to your will.
While we are not like Our Lady, who was graced by you to be without sin, so pure so that, you, in human form – God Incarnate - may grow in the womb of a pure mother, we ask that through our Guardian Angels, you fill us with your grace so much so that we will better live out your will.
You have given to Our Lady many graces. She sits on a throne of her own, though not like yours, by your will still she sits on her own, because she was the Mother of your Son, you have made her Queen of heaven. She is Theotokos, Mother of God by virtue of giving birth to your Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
Help us to use the devotions your church has promulgated for our help by venerating Our Lady. Help us to use the greatest of these devotions, the Holy Rosary, which many answered prayers, graces and protections been answered and granted. For those who find the Rosary too repetitive, may their Guardian Angel show them how much we gain for ourselves and others while meditating on the mysteries on each bead. You have given great power to Our Lady, who loves your children as her own and will help everyone who calls her name. May we spend this day meditating on Our Lady and what she can teach us. We ask all these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God Love You +++
The Most Rev. Robert Winzens
Pastor – St. Francis Chapel
San Diego, CA.
Donations … As a small parish, we come to you all as beggars! Share with us this Christmas, a little sacrifice for the Christ Child. Your generous support also allows us to continue these important projects that fuel the movement of progressive Christianity. Thank you and God bless you! +++
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