As we honor the Assumption of Mary, we celebrate that the mother of Jesus was raised by God’s side in proportion to her humility and shown by her acceptance of God’s will. Mary responded to Elizabeth:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary is the model of humility. We can look to her and see the virtue sought by working through the Twelve Steps of addiction recovery. We can be raised regardless of how far we have fallen, and we greet each other with honor and respect when we put aside our self-absorption to step into the shoes of a new group member or someone reaching out for help.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the patron saint of drug addicts, families, and prisoners, maintained a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary after being greeted by her in a vision at the age of 12. He recalled, “That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.”

This dedication to doing God’s will is an example for each of us to maintain an open mind and heart. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest, spent much of his life serving those under siege by the German army in World War II. He ultimately died in a concentration camp upon voluntarily replacing a man with a family who was sentenced to death by starvation (he did not die naturally and had to be lethally injected). Kolbe died on August 14, 1941 and was cremated the next day, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. Both he and Mary teach us to accept God’s will and remain open to His grace, no matter how treacherous it may seem.

Addiction recovery literature is consistent with this principle and offers hope: “When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands were better than anything we could have planned. Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present circumstances!” (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 100).

Reflection Questions

• Recall and describe how you have been greeted and welcomed by people in recovery.
• How do the examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Maximilian Kolbe influence your recovery and trust in God’s will?
• Who has been a model of humility and acceptance to you along your recovery journey? What have you learned from them?

Sunday Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Second Reading: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

Printable General Recovery Meeting Reflection
Printable Family & Friends Recovery Meeting Reflection
Printable Lust Recovery Meeting Reflection

Download virtual meeting reflections: General Recovery, Family & Friends Recovery, Lust Addiction Recovery