The Message photo by John Rohlf
By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Leading up to the annual Right to Life of Southwest Indiana Banquet, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated a Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Bishop Siegel celebrated the Mass Aug. 14 at St. Mary Church, Sts. Mary and John Parish, in Evansville. Father Eugene Schmitt, pastor of Sts. Mary and John Parish in Evansville; Father Tyler Underhill, parochial vicar at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville; and Father Lowell Will, senior priest of the diocese, concelebrated the Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Siegel referenced the Mass preface for the Solemnity of the Assumption, which states in part that “the Virgin Mother was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of our Church’s coming to perfection…” Bishop Siegel said these words remind us that God gave Mary to the Church as our mother, intercessor and an image of what we are called to be. Mary shows us the way to know and follow her son Jesus and how to share in the life of the Church, all while preparing the way for us to take our place with the saints in our true and ultimate home in heaven, he said.
Bishop Siegel said poor in spirit and pure of heart, Mary was already living the Beatitudes long before Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount. Bishop Siegel said with no sin to impede her, Mary shared fully in the cross of Christ, his suffering and death by which we are saved. From the cross, Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother, Bishop Siegel said.
Bishop Siegel said, along with many other titles, Mary is invoked as a mother of life and patroness of the unborn. He said the Assumption of Mary calls us to a deeper reverence for every human person, from conception to natural death.
Bishop Siegel said St. John Paul II invoked Mary as the right dawn of the new world, Mother of the Living, and entrusted to her the cause of life. He said through her intercession, we ask God to help us as her sons and daughters to embrace and proclaim the Gospel of Life with honesty and love in our families, parish, communities, schools and our places of work. With God’s grace, we continue to seek ways to better serve those in need, to build a culture of life and to protect the most vulnerable, Bishop Siegel said.
Bishop Siegel said today, the Church calls upon Mary as a sign of hope and comfort for God’s people on their pilgrim way. He said Mary assumed body and soul in heaven has gone before us, helping to prepare a case for us in the kingdom of heaven where her son, risen and exalted, sits at God’s right hand. In our lives here on earth, may we join with Mary through the word of God, the Gospel of Life, and so be blessed with her for living in our daily lives, Bishop Siegel said.