Mary's role in the Church:
       Much can be understood and gained from knowing the manner in which Mary has been understood in the various historical and cultural movements of the Church's tradition. Devotion to Mary has generated a richness in Catholic spirituality. Mary, foremost among the saints, has a special place in the story of salvation history. The New Testament reports that she was singled out and graced by God for the special and unique privilege of being the mother of the Savior. When Jesus launched his public ministry, Mary faithfully witnessed and supported him. With courage and sorrow in her heart, she stood at the foot of the cross in Jesus' dying moments. Finally, the Bible tells us that Mary was with the apostles praying in the upper room after Jesus' resurrection, expectantly awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit. The church teaches that Mary is the greatest Christian saint of all, the perfect model of Christian faith.

However, at times, excesses in such devotion may have clouded the simple beauty of the young Nazarean maiden whose humble obedience to God's will gave all people their Redeemer. Her "let it be done to me" changed the course of human history by fulfilling salvation history. Mary, small and insignificant in her world's eyes, was mighty and strong in her unfailing faith in God. The first to benefit from the Redeemer's salvation, Mary was conceived without sin and is our model of purity. Mary, as human as we are, suffered the pain and anxiety of all parents who can no longer protect or save their children from the evils that prevail upon them. God's choice of Mary as the mother of his Son continues to challenge modern society's definitions of success and greatness.

Titles by which the Church honors Mary:
The church honors Mary with many titles such as Our Lady, Mother of God, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Blessed Mother, Mother of the Church, Ever Virgin, Queen of Heaven and Earth. These titles reflect what the church believes and teaches about her.

What we mean by the Immaculate Conception:
By the Immaculate Conception we mean that, by a privilege that was granted to no other human being, Mary, Our Lady, was conceived without and preserved from original sin at that very first instant of her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. This means that from the first moment of her existence Mary was full of grace, that is, free of any alienation from God caused by original sin.
We declare, pronounce and define that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, by the singular grace and privilege of the omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of humankind, and that this doctrine was revealed by God, and therefore, must be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful?Ineffabilis Dei. Because of Mary’s special role in God's saving plan, she was graced with this divine favor in anticipation of her son's death and resurrection.

The church's teaching about Mary's virginity:
           The Apostles' Creed states that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Mary conceived Jesus without a human father, and the Church has traditionally taught that she was a virgin "before, in, and after" the birth of the Lord.

The Assumption of Our Lady Means:
By the Assumption of Our Lady is meant that at the end of her earthly life Mary was taken, body and soul, into heaven. God did not allow the body from which his Son took human life to suffer corruption, the fate of all those who have been affected by original sin.
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.
The fact that Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul was proclaimed a dogma of the Catholic Church on November 1, 1950 by Pope Pius XII, who stated as dogma a belief that had been commonly held by the Church for centuries. Pius XII officially proclaimed the doctrine of the assumption: "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." In her assumption, Mary was preserved from the decay of death. Mary, the mother of the Savior, has a unique share in the Lord's resurrection.

The statement of Plus XII included the following excerpt "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords, and conqueror of sin and death." (Munificentissimus Deus 1950)
The Assumption of Mary anticipates the resurrection of all members of the Body of Christ.
This feast is also known as the "Natale" or the "Dormitio," of Mary. There are homilies on the Assumption dated from before the sixth century, and by the thirteenth century, there was universal agreement concerning this feast.

PRAYER -- O Holy Mary! My Mother; into your blessed trust and special custody, and into the bosom of your mercy, I this day, and every day, and in the hour of my death, commend my soul and my body. To you I commit all my anxieties and sorrows, my life and the end of my life, that by your mot holy intercession, and my your merits, all my actions may be directed and governed by your will and that of your Son. Amen. St. Aloysius Gonzaga.

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN REMINDS US THAT OUR TRUE HOMELAND IS HEAVEN:
The Church rejoices in celebration of the glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, and venerates her, assumed into glory in soul and body. The Feast of the Assumption shows the belief always present in the People of God, guided by Revelation and Tradition, that the Mother of Jesus is associated with her Son's Victory over death. Mary, chosen by God as the purest abode to "come and dwell in" in the midst of men, at the end of her terrestrial existence, was immediately taken and received into heaven. Because of this, the Christian community joyfully sings her praises in a famous hymn and invokes her thus: "Hail, powerful support of the faithful / Hail, splendid standard of grace... / Hail, O key to the Kingdom of Christ / Hail, hope of eternal treasures... / Hail, through you the heavens exult with the earth / Hail, through you the earth rejoices with the heavens" (Akathistos).
The Assumption reminds us that our true homeland is Heaven and offers us the Virgin’s maternal help to prepare us for the definitive meeting, our final earthly encounter, with Christ at the end of our pilgrimage on earth. The Feast of the Assumption is celebrated almost everywhere according to country custom. The Christian meaning of the Feast can be rediscover by taking part in the Eucharistic celebration and praying with devotion to our heavenly Mother, the Queen of Heaven. The Most Holy Virgin's maternal protection is invoked and relied upon for intercession with her Son, Our Lord. Mary, so loved by him, continues to follow us on the earthly road as a caring Mother of her children, especially of the new generations, and remind all of the glorious end, where she has preceded us and awaits us.
Pope John Paul II (2000)

The Rosary Means:
The Rosary is a perfect blend of vocal prayers and meditation. The vocal prayers center on the recitation of a number of decades of Hail Marys, each decade introduced by the Lord's Prayer and concluded by a Glory Be. During the recitation of these vocal prayers, we meditate on certain events, or mysteries, from the life of Christ and Mary. The repetition of the Hail Marys helps to keep our minds from distractions as we meditate on the mysteries.