Aguascalientes, August 14.— Every August 15, Aguascalientes celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, one of the most significant religious traditions for the state’s identity, whose message remains particularly relevant in the face of the challenges of contemporary society.
For Father Carlos Cervantes Blengio, chaplain at the Aguascalientes campus of the Universidad Panamericana , this celebration offers a response to a deeply human need: to regain hope.
Understanding the meaning of the Assumption, the chaplain explains, involves asking ourselves three fundamental questions about existence: “Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?”. These questions, taken from a famous work by the French painter Paul Gauguin, invite us to reflect on the meaning of life and on what happens when human beings lose a horizon toward which to direct their steps.
What does the Assumption of the Virgin Mary mean?
According to Catholic faith, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary teaches that, after her earthly journey, Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul. For Father Carlos Cervantes, this celebration represents the triumph of the first redeemed and shows believers what their ultimate destiny is.
“The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin speaks to us of the triumph of the first to be redeemed, who is the Blessed Virgin,” he explained.
This perspective can help bring the meaning of a centuries-old tradition closer to new generations. Drawing on Benedict XVI’s thoughts on Christian hope, the chaplain of the “ Universidad Panamericana ” points out that a lack of hope is linked to the absence of horizons that allow human beings to lift their gaze and find a purpose toward which to direct their lives.
A tradition dating back centuries
The origins of this celebration date back to the early centuries of Christianity. According to Father Carlos, the celebration of the “Dormition of the Virgin” began to take shape in the East around the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Over the centuries, the belief in the Assumption of Mary took root among the faithful, until it was formally declared a dogma of the faith by the Catholic Church in 1950.
Why is the Assumption of Mary important to Aguascalientes?
In Aguascalientes, the festival also took on a unique character due to its connection to a region historically linked to viticulture. The priest explains that August coincides with the grape harvest season and that this agricultural imagery allows for a parallel to be drawn with the religious celebration. Just as the fruit that has reached maturity is harvested, Mary represents, from a Christian perspective, the fullness of a life of faith.
This devotion is also rooted in Mexico’s Marian tradition. According to the chaplain, through evangelization—and particularly through the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe—the figure of Mary became an extremely important element in the country’s religious and cultural identity. In Aguascalientes, that tradition continues to bring together people from very different walks of life, all united by their faith.
The Assumption of Mary as an Invitation to Rediscover Hope
Looking ahead to August 15, the chaplain encouraged us not to limit the celebration to its outward expressions alone, but to experience it on a personal level as well. Among the gifts he suggests we can offer the Virgin Mary on her feast day are approaching the Sacrament of Penance—which St. Josemaría called the sacrament of joy—visiting her at the wayside shrine on our campus at some point, and entrusting to her a resolution for personal improvement.
In this way, a centuries-old tradition preserves for Aguascalientes a message that transcends generations: the possibility of finding hope and meaning through faith.
As Fr. Carlos puts it: “There is hope because we are children of God, and Mary watches over us.”
