These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, August 15

God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
   

“Now have salvation and power come,
 and the Kingdom of our God
 and the authority of his Anointed One.” (Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab)

The image of the woman with child, clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of 12 stars, has always captured the imagination of the church. Our response to these great signs is to join with Mary in singing the praises of the Lord: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, and holy is his Name.”