Feast of the Assumption of Mary: August 15 Meaning and Prayers

On August 15 the Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven. Christians have honored her “falling asleep” and Assumption since the early centuries, and in 1950 Pope Pius XII solemnly defined it as a dogma of faith. It is one of the three great Marian solemnities and, in many countries, a holy day of obligation and a public holiday. Below are the meaning of the feast, the holy day rules for 2027, its customs, the traditional prayers of thanksgiving for the Assumption and the Scripture of the day.

What the Assumption means

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Second Vatican Council, teaches: “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.” It adds that the Assumption “is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians” (CCC 966).

In other words, what Mary already enjoys, body and soul, is what God promises to all who belong to Christ at the resurrection of the dead. St. Paul’s words are read at the Mass of the day:

But now Christ is risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that sleep:
For by a man came death, and by a man the resurrection of the dead.
And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
But every one in his own order: the firstfruits Christ, then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming.

Did Mary die? Pope Pius XII deliberately did not decide the question. The Eastern Churches celebrate the same day as the Dormition (“falling asleep”) of the Mother of God, and many Catholic theologians hold that she died like her Son before being assumed; others hold that she was assumed without dying. Both views are permitted.

Is the Assumption a holy day of obligation?

Yes. In the United States the Assumption is a holy day of obligation, except that the obligation to attend Mass is lifted when August 15 falls on a Saturday or a Monday. In 2027 August 15 falls on a Sunday, so the Solemnity of the Assumption replaces the Sunday Mass and the Sunday obligation is fulfilled by attending it. In many other countries, including Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Austria and much of Latin America, it is both a holy day and a public holiday.

Scripture for the Assumption

The first reading of the Mass during the Day describes the woman clothed with the sun:

And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:
And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered.

The responsorial psalm sings of the queen at the King’s right hand:

The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.

And the Gospel is the Visitation, when Mary proclaimed the Magnificat:

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Prayers of thanksgiving for the Assumption

These three prayers, indulgenced by Pope Pius VII in 1822, thank each Person of the Holy Trinity for the glory given to Mary in her Assumption. Before each one, pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be. From The Raccolta (1910):

To God the Father

I adore Thee, Eternal Father, my Lord and my God, in union with all the heavenly host, rendering Thee infinite thanks for every grace and favour Thou hast granted to Mary, most holy Virgin, thy well-beloved daughter, and, above all, for that height of power to which Thou didst exalt her by her Assumption into heaven.

To God the Son

I adore Thee too, Eternal Son, my God, my Lord, and my Redeemer, in union with all the heavenly host, rendering Thee infinite thanks for every grace and favour Thou hast granted to Mary, Virgin most blessed, thy well-beloved Mother, and, above all, for the gift of highest wisdom with which Thou didst glorify her on her Assumption into heaven.

To God the Holy Spirit

I adore Thee also, O Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, my God and my Lord, and in union with all the heavenly host I render Thee infinite thanks for every grace and favour Thou hast granted to the most blessed Virgin, thy most loving Spouse, and, above all, for that most perfect and divine charity with which Thou didst inflame her most holy and most pure heart in the act of her most glorious Assumption into heaven. In the name of thy most chaste Spouse, I humbly beg of Thee to grant me the grace of remission of all my most grievous sins which I have committed from the first moment when I was able to sin until this day, for all of which I grieve exceedingly, firmly purposing rather to die than ever again offend thy Divine Majesty; and relying on the high merits and most powerful protection of this thy most loving Spouse, I beg of Thee to grant me the most precious gift of thy grace and Divine love, by vouchsafing me those lights and special helps whereby thy eternal providence has determined to will my salvation, and to bring me to Thyself.

A prayer for the feast of the Assumption

Written for this page:

Mary, assumed into heaven, Mother of God and our Mother,
you are where we hope to be: with your Son, body and soul, forever.
Keep our eyes on heaven while we work on earth.
Pray for our loved ones who have died,
and lead us safely home to the glory you now share. Amen.

Customs of the Assumption

Blessing of herbs and flowers. In Germany, Austria and Central Europe, people bring bouquets of herbs and flowers to be blessed on August 15, recalling the tradition that Mary’s tomb was found filled with flowers.
Processions. In Malta, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Philippines, statues of Our Lady of the Assumption are carried through the streets.
Ferragosto. In Italy August 15 is a national holiday, the high point of summer.
Acadians in Canada and Louisiana keep August 15 as their national day, under Our Lady of the Assumption.
The Dormition fast. Eastern Christians prepare with a fast from August 1 to 14.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Feast of the Assumption?

August 15 every year.

When was the Assumption declared a dogma?

On November 1, 1950, when Pope Pius XII defined it in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus.

What is the difference between the Assumption and the Ascension?

Jesus ascended into heaven by his own divine power. Mary was assumed, taken up by the power of God.

Is the Assumption in the Bible?

The Bible does not narrate it, but the Church sees it foreshadowed in Scripture, such as the woman clothed with the sun (Apocalypse 12), and it rests on the constant faith and tradition of the Church in East and West.

More Marian prayers

Texts and sources

Catechism of the Catholic Church 966; Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950).
Prayers of thanksgiving: The Raccolta, or Collection of Indulgenced Prayers and Good Works (London: Burns and Oates, 1910), no. 5, public domain (archive.org).
Scripture: Apocalypse 12:1–2; Psalm 44:10 (45:10 in modern Bibles); 1 Corinthians 15:20–23; Luke 1:46–48, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The feast prayer was written for this page.