Assumption!

**UPDATED**

So, yes, we're a little late on this. Better late than never.

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption, and is a holy day of obligation, so all you actual Catholics out there shoulda been to Mass today (or have plans to go to a late mass).

Today's Gospel is the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, a reading very dear to me, as I went to a Visitation school for high school (run by the Sisters of the Visitation), and my church has a chapel dedicated to the Visitation. This story is about Mary's utter selflessness. It's after her encounter with Gabriel, where she has learned that not only is she to bear the Son of God, but that her cousin Elizabeth (past childbearing years) is pregnant, too. So Mary, young, unmarried, and pregnant, sets of on foot to visit her cousin and help her with her pregnancy. And, in the course of greeting said cousin, graces scripture with the Magnificat, one of the most beautiful prayers in our repertoire.

I could try to write something deep and meaningful about this very meaningful and deep day, but you know what-- some other people already have, and they are far wiser than I, so let me recommend some links:

Argent has a ton of good reads today-- just go and scroll, there's so much . . .

Disputations of the Importance of the Devotion to Mary

Deacon Kandra gives us a bit of Merton on the Visitation.
Be sure to read his homily for today, as well.

Athos brings us a lovely music video focused on Our Lady

**And, Dimbulb, in the comments, recommended the two sermons to be found here, and I agree, they're quite good, so do be sure to find time to read them. Good stuff!**


Be sure to check all of those links out!

PS: Okay, I'm setting myself up for a beat-down in asking this, but I've gotta know. . . Considering my actual love of Chant and Old School Music, is it bad that everytime I sing "Hail, Holy Queen" I hear the version from Sister Act in my head?