Catholic News

The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Aug. 15 is an opportune time to deepen our love for the Mother of God by understanding the "place" God has assigned her for our spiritual benefit and eternal salvation.

Mary's assumption into heaven is a dogma of faith for Catholics.

Church dogmas encompass truths concerning God, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Church, the sacraments, and the ultimate destiny of human beings. With regard to Mary, the Church has defined four dogmas.

Below is a review of the dogmas proclaimed regarding Mary, a helpful reminder of the role she plays in God's plan of salvation for us.

1. The Immaculate Conception

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception states that the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved by a singular grace of God and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ from all stain of original sin from the very first moment of her conception.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) summarizes it thus: The Virgin was "preserved immune from all stain of original sin" such that her "entirely unique holiness" was enriched "from the first instant of her conception," which God granted her to prepare within her a dwelling place for the Incarnate Word.

This dogma was defined by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854, through the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. Church teaching emphasizes that this grace comes from Jesus Christ, not apart from him: Mary was redeemed in a "prevenient" (or "preceding") and perfect manner in virtue of her Son's merits.

2. Divine motherhood

Mary's divine motherhood means that the Virgin is truly the mother of God, because Jesus Christ, her son, is one divine person with two natures, the human and the divine. Therefore, the child born of Mary according to the flesh is the eternal Son of God made man; in this sense, Mary is truly Theotokos, the Mother of God (cf. CCC, 495).

This truth was solemnly proclaimed by the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 under the pontificate of Pope Celestine I. In the 20th century, the Second Vatican Council reaffirmed this doctrine by noting that "from the most ancient times, the Blessed Virgin is honored with the title of Mother of God" (Lumen Gentium, 66).

3. Her perpetual virginity

The dogma of perpetual virginity affirms that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. This truth has been part of the Catholic faith since the early centuries.

It is not merely a matter of noting that Mary remained a virgin up to a certain point but of professing that her virginity was perpetual. St. John Paul II recalled that the Church has consistently regarded this truth as part of the faith received and deepened throughout its history.

Unlike the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, this dogma was not defined in a single papal bull. Mary's perpetual virginity was formally defined through the Second Council of Constantinople (553) and the Lateran Synod (649).

4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary states that the Blessed Virgin, having completed the course of her earthly life, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory. The Church does not define the exact manner in which her earthly life ended, but it does proclaim with certainty that she was fully glorified by God (cf. CCC, 966).

This dogma was solemnly proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on Nov. 1, 1950, through the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. That document reaffirms that the Immaculate Mother of God was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

Important to remember

Marian dogmas do not detract in any way from Jesus Christ; on the contrary, they reveal the greatness of God's saving work in the Virgin Mary. Therefore, authentic Marian devotion never separates Mary from Jesus Christ but rather contemplates her as the Lord's first and most perfect disciple.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Spanish priest Father Fernando Cuevas has helped 1,280 single people find a spouse and get married over the past 15 years using WhatsApp and a simple questionnaire.

"There are many people longing for true and everlasting love in Christ," he told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Now over 70, the priest, who is from the island of Ibiza and is a member of Opus Dei, acknowledges that this providential pastoral work has transformed his ministry: "This has totally changed my life," he said.

In addition to serving as chaplain for two schools near Valencia and two youth clubs, for the past 15 years he has been receiving dozens of requests from single Catholics — "on a normal day, 60 WhatsApp messages" — at the number +34 609 765 284.

Despite the sheer volume, he said he approaches it with great peace of mind: "I don't let myself get overwhelmed," he said.

"The two requirements I set are that they be over 25 and attend Mass on Sundays," he explained. From there, he asks about their age, their level of church involvement, and where they live, cross-referencing the information whenever possible.

At times, he has to ask those who come to him for patience. "Wait — your turn will come," he tells those who express a particularly strong desire to find a life partner.

When it comes to exchanging numbers, the first thing he looks at is the city where they live, as this usually makes things easier, though not always. He also tries to ensure the men are taller and two or three years older than the women.

Then there are "people with a strong sense of spirituality" — another factor that really helps ensure that the candidates hit it off.

'I'm a priest; I completely trust in Providence'

Cuevas sets no limits on divine plans and serves people of all ages, though men are scarce in certain age groups. "I have few men in their 30s. A great many in their 40s. And fewer from age 50 onwards." Women are less scarce.

Despite his success, the priest approaches this pastoral work with humility: "I have no special gift," he said.

"I'm a priest; I completely trust in Providence and know that God calls every person, that there is a specific plan from the Lord for them from before they were born. Just as someone might have a vocation to a religious order, a movement, or anything else, God has someone in mind for that person, so that they may attain holiness."

The priest, dubbed the "Tinder priest" or a matchmaker, is clear that the vocation to marriage is no less significant than others: "It's a call to total self-giving. Just as a priest or a nun has discovered that deep longing of the human heart."

It has happened on occasion that phone numbers got mixed up during the exchange. Someone called the wrong person, not the one originally intended. They met up, had a meal, and got to know each other. Obviously, they realized the photos and certain profile details didn't match, but they didn't mind. "I don't know what happened, but it's perfect," one of them wrote to him.

Requests from around the world

At the start of this pastoral work, Cuevas sought to help people in his immediate circle within the Archdiocese of Valencia. However, many people write to him from other countries, particularly from Spanish-speaking America.

To better handle these requests, he relies on the assistance of another priest, Father Vicente Huerta, who is based in Spain and spends many nights speaking with people in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, among other places.

But they have also had candidates from places that might seem unexpected at first glance, such as India.

'People want to love truly'

In a society like Spain's, which is experiencing a major crisis regarding marriage and the family, Cuevas said he draws a clear lesson from this apostolate: "People are looking for true love. There is a yearning, an enormous need to love. People are in great need. They want to love truly, to forget themselves, to give of themselves, and to bring Christ into their lives."

He continued: "The vast majority are looking for someone who places Christ at the center of their lives. There are so many people longing for that. It moves me to see the number of people who say: 'It doesn't matter to me if he has blue eyes, is very handsome, or is very smart. If he doesn't have Christ at the center of his life — forget it.' That is the hierarchy of values."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 15 called on Catholics to look to Mary, the Mother of God as an example of "true beauty," with the Holy Father pointing to her youthful appearance in sacred art as a sign of "love that never ends."

The Holy Father delivered the homily during Mass at the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo, directly adjacent to the papal summer residence there. The small chapel was full for the 10 a.m. liturgy of the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In his homily reflecting on Mary's assumption into heaven, Leo noted that "many works of art depict her as a beautiful young woman physically rising from the earth toward the heavens at the end of her earthly life."

These depictions of a youthful Mary at the end of her life offer a contrast with "our experience of what the passing of years does to us," the pope said. He asked rhetorically: "What do we have in common with the beautiful young woman depicted on the altarpieces of our churches?"

Mary's glorification, the pope said, "teaches us that our true beauty does not lie in hiding the signs of aging, but in revealing the signs of love that never end, and are even impressed on our flesh."

The pope said this sign of faith invites Catholics to "reexamine many of the aesthetic standards, predominantly hedonistic and consumerist in nature, that the world imposes on us."

He contrasted those who look aged but who radiate "serenity, kindness and peace" with those who "are perhaps outwardly attractive but hard and cold at heart."

"It is easy to see where true beauty lies and where, on the other hand, there is still a need for conversion, forgiveness and healing," he said.

Love "is humanity's most beautiful adornment," the pope said. He urged Catholics to "follow the light of the Risen Lord" in part by "looking to Mary, whom God has crowned with glory in body and soul."

In remarks during his midday Angelus after the Mass, Leo said viewing a depiction of Mary being assumed into heaven "allows us to contemplate our ultimate destiny" as followers of Christ.

He described the Blessed Mother as "a sign of hope and consolation" for the faithful and he invoked her blessing on "those communities that are particularly in need of consolation," including the faithful in Ukraine and Russia, as well as those suffering from the recent earthquake in Colombia.

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WBVM/Tampa (90.5 Spirit FM) announces the promotion of Davis Watts to Program Director. Watts will continue to serve as Music Director and host of the More Music Middays (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) Watts says, "It's been an honor serving the Tampa Bay community with this amazing team for the past 13 years. I feel that the Lord, our listeners and the industry friends I've made over these years have prepared me for the exciting challenge of leading our air staff and I'm eager to get started."  

Watts joined the Spirit FM team in 2008, moving through the ranks of night time announcer, to middays, Music Director and now Program Director.  "I've seen tremendous growth in Davis, and a hunger to improve not only his craft, but the station's as a whole.  I'm excited that he's up to the challenge." said John Morris, Station Manager. 

Spirit FM is a 100,000 FM station serving the Tampa/St. Petersburg market since May 1986. The station is owned by the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, the only Catholic station in the country programming contemporary Christian music. For more information about Spirit FM, visit myspiritfm.com.

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