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Illustration:Woman clothed with the Sun or Woman of the Apocalypse
– from the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation– painting by Ferenc Szoldatits
Pope Leo’s homily on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova (Castel Gandolfo) –
Saturday 15 August 2026
Gospel of Luke 1:46–55
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”
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Dear brothers and sisters,
The Church’s Magisterium teaches us that Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
In this mystery, the Church points out to us the fulfillment of the most perfect grace that God bestowed upon her at her Immaculate Conception.
For this reason, many works of art depict her rising beautifully from the earth toward the heavens at the end of her life.
These works are inspired by the scene described in the passage from the Book of Revelation that we heard in the first reading: “A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet” (Revelation 12:1).
This signifies that heaven and earth, time and eternity, meet in Mary’s heart.
At first glance, this image seems to contradict our experience of the effects of aging.
As we age, our bodies become heavier, our skin shows signs of old age, and our hair turns gray and white.
So, what do we have in common with the beautiful, young women depicted on the altarpieces in our churches?
To understand this, we must consider the two signs we mentioned together: the incorrupt body of the Mother of God and her Immaculate Heart.
It is the purity of the soul that illuminates and transfigures the whole person, leading us to the glory of Heaven — in Mary, as in us, by the grace of God.
The glorification of Mary, body and soul, teaches us that true beauty does not lie in concealing the signs of aging. Rather, it lies in revealing the everlasting signs of love impressed upon our flesh. (1 Corinthians 13:8 – Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.).
Keeping this in mind, we should reexamine the aesthetic standards imposed on us by the world. These standards are predominantly hedonistic and consumerist. These standards can trap us in burdensome expectations and cause us to waste precious energy on things that don’t really matter or last forever.
In everyday life, we encounter people whose faces bear the marks of years and suffering yet radiate serenity, kindness, and peace.
Conversely, we may observe others who are perhaps outwardly attractive, yet hard and cold at heart. True beauty is easy to recognize.
Nevertheless, there is still a need for conversion, forgiveness, and healing.
To discover and nurture the divine beauty that surrounds us and for which we were made—and to share it with others—we must learn to see it in the wrinkles of an elderly person, the tender face of a child, the maturity of an adult, the liveliness of a young person, work clothes, and tools, as well as festive decorations.
We must listen to the unique love stories these realities tell us and recognize small glimpses of heaven in them.
Love is the most beautiful adornment of humanity.
It transfigures, transforms, ennobles, and lifts us up. It makes us feel light and free, and brings us closer to God, even amid life’s ups and downs.
Reflecting on the mystery of the Assumption of the Virgin, St. Paul VI said that to understand its meaning . . . “We must transform earthly and temporal terms into superlative and absolute ones to imagine the eternal on a small scale.” (Homily, 15 August 1969).
Regarding the encounter between the infinite and the finite in the Mother of God,
Pope Francis wrote: “Mary transformed a stable into a home for Jesus with humble swaddling clothes and an abundance of love.” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 286).
The miracle that Mary, the maiden of Nazareth, experienced in her heart led her to Heavenly glory. It is a meeting of extremes, as she testifies in the inspired words of the Magnificat, which we heard in the Gospel of Luke (above).
In this canticle, the Mother of God humbly shares the magnificent mysteries she experienced, such as God becoming man in her to save humanity and the Eternal One revealing himself within time to reopen the path to eternity for us.
In her position as a “humble servant,” Saint Paul VI says Mary shows us the “humble dimension” through which we too can encounter the Lord.
We need not look far to find the sublimity of the mystery we celebrate.
We can encounter it wherever there is true charity.
For example, we can find it in the eyes of a father and mother who have returned home after a long day—tired, yet happy to be with their children.
We can also find it in the faces of grandfathers and grandmothers who, despite the aches and pains of old age, are filled with unexpected energy as they care for their grandchildren.
We can also find it in the commitment of young people who strive to grow in morality and sincerity, even if it means going against the grain of “what everyone else does.”
Finally, we can find it in the daily work of so many men and women who, with faith and dedication, help bring a little bit of heaven to earth and bring the earth closer to heaven.
Dear friends,
The beautiful face of Our Lady of the Assumption is unique. It transcends any possible representation yet is familiar to us.
Even now, we can see her face in the people close to us, such as our brothers and sisters in faith with whom we share the daily offering of our lives.
For this reason, the community of believers sees itself in the woman of the Book of Revelation. The Second Vatican Council describes Mary as “the image and beginning of the Church […] a sign of sure hope and solace.” (Lumen Gentium, 68).
Through her holy human nature and by the grace of God, we see our own nature. Therefore, we are also called to live a life filled with grace and to share in her glory.
When discussing Christ’s resurrection, St. Augustine urged Christians to make it the focal point of their lives.
He said: “Christ rose from the dead so that He might never die again […]. Change course, follow the light! Begin to rise from the very place from which he rose” (Enarratio in Psalmos, 126:7).
Let us accept His invitation.
Let us follow the light of the risen Lord and change course if necessary.
Today, especially, let us do so by looking to Mary, whom God has crowned with glory in body and soul. He has given her to us as our mother, guide, companion on our journey, and protector on the path to heaven.
