By John M. Froz, SJ
On 1 November 1950, Pope Pius XII declared that it is a dogma of the Church “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.” The Assumption of Mary is a truth of salvation history that requires our belief and assent. By believing and celebrating this truth on 15 August we are just imitating Christ in honoring His mother.
In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her ‘Magnificat’ (Luke 1:46–55) with new meaning. In her glory she proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God, her savior who has raised her to this exalted status. God has done marvels to her all her life and now she sees his latest marvel of assuming into heaven his lowly, loyal and courageous handmaid.
If we celebrate Mary’s total freedom from sin on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate on 15 August the reward for her total freedom from sin – being freed from the consequences of death, which is the wages of sin.
On 15 August we celebrate also the political freedom our motherland won from the British occupation, which lasted for nearly 89 years – from 1858 till 1947. Earlier the East India Company that came from England for trade ended up seizing and occupying large parts of the Indian subcontinent. After Indians rebelled against the East India Company in 1857, the British government took over the administration from the Company in 1858. India became the British Raj.
God has done marvels to her all her life and now she sees his latest marvel of assuming into heaven his lowly, loyal and courageous handmaid.
The freedom that India won from colonial rule on 15 August 1947 did not come easily. Several innocent Indians had to pay a heavy price -which sometimes meant their very lives – to the British, who were paranoid about the least opposition to their colonial rule. Finally it took a great soul, a Mahatma, to win freedom with a uniquely new weapon that the British were never used to – non-violent resistance.
At that happy, long-awaited moment when India became free, Mahatma Gandhi said: “From 15 August we shall be delivered from the bondage of the British rule. But from midnight today, India will be partitioned too. While, therefore, tomorrow will be a day of rejoicing, it will be a day of sorrow as well. It will throw a heavy burden of responsibility upon us. Let us pray to God that He may give us strength to bear it.”
Jawaharlal Nehru, who became the first Prime Minister of India, hoisted for the first time the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi. In his speech at the Red Fort he said, “We have gathered here on a historic occasion at this ancient fort to win back what was ours. This flag symbolizes democracy not only for India but for the whole world. India, Asia and the world must rejoice on this great day.”
The two feasts we celebrate on 15 August must make us think of the freedoms we enjoy, thanks to the Indian Constitution, which was drawn up by a team, headed by the legal luminary and champion of social justice, Dr. Ambedkar. But we should remember that we cannot take our rights for granted.
Human rights are universal and inviolable, because they are founded on human dignity which is inherent in humans who are created in the image of God.
The Catholic Church and its current leader Pope Francis continue to uphold the core principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Human rights are universal and inviolable, because they are founded on human dignity which is inherent in humans who are created in the image of God.
Among the basic human rights is religious freedom. Wherever religious freedom is high, there is more economic prosperity, better health, and lower income inequality.
Pope Paul VI said, “The Church is dedicated to humanity, and in that respect, it is very important that the Church keeps protecting and promoting human rights…”
John M. Froz, SJ (BOM) serves at Mother of God Church, Palle, Vasai, India. He can be contacted at johnfroz@hotmail.com.