(Solemnity of the Assumption: This homily was given on August 15, 2025 at St. Pius X Church, Westerly, R.I., by Fr. Raymond Suriani. Read Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-10; Psalm 45:10-16; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1: 39-56.)
[For the audio version of this homily, click here: Assumption 2025]
William I was king of England way back in the eleventh century. He’s known to most people in the modern world
as “William, the Conqueror.” Today, on
this Solemnity of the Assumption, the Church proclaims Mary to be “the
Conqueror”—although her conquering is far more important than William’s was,
and it has nothing to do with his or any other earthly kingdom.
What does the dogma of the Assumption say about the Blessed Mother? (I mention this because many Catholics and non-Catholics alike are unclear about it.) The dogma does not say that Mary saved herself. Mary was a human person, who received salvation as a free gift from her divine Son. As we heard her say today in the Magnificat, God was her Savior. The dogma says (and here I quote), “ . . . 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, so that she might be more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.”
Mary conquered because her Son conquered! And it didn’t start when she left this life and was assumed into heaven; Mary’s conquering began here, on this earth—which is really good news for all of us! For example, she conquered fear and confusion with faith: “Be it done unto me, O Lord, according to your word!” (Luke 1:38) She conquered lust with perfect purity of mind and heart. She conquered anger and hatred with love: love even for the people who murdered her only Son! She conquered greed and pride with humility: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. (Luke 1:38). . . He has looked with favor upon his lowly servant (Luke 1:48).” In a certain sense you could say that Mary conquered Eve’s “No” with her own, lifelong “Yes!” Along these lines, St. John says toward the end of his first letter, “Who, then, is the conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” To “believe” in Jesus biblically means to “live for Jesus.” Mary lived for her Son more completely than anyone else, therefore she has conquered death through her Son and now lives with him in eternal glory, body and soul.
St. Paul said, “I can do all things in [Christ] who strengthens me.” Paul knew that he could conquer temptation and the forces of evil by the same power through which Mary conquered. So can we, if we want to. And if temptation and sin ever do conquer us, we can receive forgiveness through the very same power of Christ, if we simply have the good sense to humble ourselves and get to Confession as soon as possible.
Let’s remember: at the end of time, there will be only two groups of people in all of creation, “the conquered,” and “the conquerors.” Those who have been conquered by Satan and have not repented, will live forever in his kingdom under his diabolical rule; those who have conquered sin and death through the power of Jesus Christ will live forever with him—and with Mary, the Conqueror—in the glories of heaven. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, that we, too, will be conquerors.
