Dear Parishioners of St. James:
Praised be Jesus Christ!
The Blessed Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly pilgrimage, was taken up to Heaven in body and soul. She did not suffer corruption because she is the sinless Mother of God. She is gloriously reigning as the Queen of Heaven next to her divine Son, our Universal King.
God did not make death, nor does he rejoice at the destruction of the living (Wis. 1:1). Our Lady is the perfect model of God’s plan to take us to Heaven without sin. For us sinners, however, we must undergo corruption and death as the just consequence of our first Parents’ sin and our own. We ask Mary for the grace of a holy and happy death each time we pray the fourth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. Since Our Lady went to Heaven so perfectly, we pray that she may intercede for our soul to enter Heaven as soon as possible after we leave this world.
Please remain in the state of grace at all times so that you might experience a holy and happy death. As sinners, we all have to pass through the gates of death in order to enter our heavenly homeland. Devotion to Mary will assure us of finally sharing the vision of God that she has enjoyed since her Assumption.
God bless you,
Fr. Geary
Saint James Catholic Church 