August 15 is the day that Catholics have long celebrated what is called the Dormition (falling asleep) or Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Assumption celebrates both the happy departure of Mary from this life by her natural death, and her assumption bodily into heaven.
We do know some important facts about Mary’s life. We can read in the Gospels that Mary’s role was not just to give birth to Jesus and raise Him to adulthood. We are told that Mary was present at many points in Jesus’ life. She was there at her Son’s crucifixion and also present in the upper room at Pentecost. There are many traditions about Mary which, whilst not biblical, have been around for many centuries. There are records going back at least to the fifth century which show that teaching about Mary’s reception into heaven was considered an important part of the Christian tradition from very early on. It’s also interesting to note that today’s feast is celebrated not just by Catholics but also by all the Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Christians and even the Ethiopian Coptic Church.
August 15th – Matki Boskiej Zielnej – Mother of God of the Herbs Feast – Continuing a centuries-old tradition, Polish National Catholics will observe this Feast with a special Mass and blessing liturgy. Matki Boskiej Zielnej, or the Mother of God of the Herbs, was for our immigrant ancestors and for many of today’s Polish National Catholics, a day of thanksgiving when the first fruits of the harvest are properly offered to God. Herbs, flowers, wheat and vegetables are woven into wreaths and special bouquets. The bouquets, adorned with blue ribbons in Mary’s honor, are taken to the church for a blessing. Following the blessing, the bouquets are kept in the home as dried decorations enhancing the beauty of the interior; often they are hang on the porch, until the same day the following year.
Blessing of flowers and herbs will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 before 9am Holy Mass and on Sunday, Aug. 16 during the Holy Mass at 11am.
The ark which God has sanctified,

Which He has filled with grace,
Within the temple of the Lord

Has found a resting-place.
More glorious than the seraphim,

This ark of love divine,

Corruption could not blemish her

Whom death could not confine.
God-bearing Mother, Virgin chaste,

Who shines in heaven’s sight;

She wears a royal crown of stars

Who is the door of Light.
To Father, Son and Spirit blest

may we give endless praise

With Mary, who is Queen of heaven,

Through everlasting days.

(from Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal)