The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is traditionally celebrated on the 15th of August. We will be praying the Novena to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven from 6 August to 14 August 2021.

The 15th of August is the day according to Holy Tradition that Our Lady was assumed body and soul into heaven. It is traditionally believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary suffered temporal death on the 13th of August. This is sometimes referred to as her sleep, because on account of her Immaculate Conception her body would have suffered no decay. The Catholic Church of Jerusalem traditionally celebrated a Mariam Tridium from the 13th to the 15th of August. It should be noted that Our Lady didn’t have to die, because death is the debt owed by sin. She freely chose to die and unite herself more closely with Our Divine Redeemer, thus meriting countless graces for us in our last moments. St. Alphonsus Liguori said that Our Lady chose to die to be the “Mirror of Justice”, a title we use in the Litany to Our Lady.

Catholics have always believed in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but it was infallibly defined as a dogma by Pope Pius XII in Munificentissimus Deus:

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

Munificentissimus Deus

Our Lady Assumed into Heaven is the Patroness of South Africa. The South African Bishops consecrated our country to Our Lady assumed into Heaven in 1952. We are humbly asking for our country to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary now.

Please join in praying the Novena to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven from 6 August to 14 August 2021.

Pray the Novena to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life in body and soul.
You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body.
As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the victory of life over death.
You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and earth.

We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we honor you.
We are confident that you watch over our daily lives and we ask that you intercede for us now.

(mention your request)

We are comforted by our faith in the coming Resurrection and we look to you for prayers and comfort.
After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.