The Feast of the Assumption of Mary was celebrated on Aug. 14, recalling the death of the Virgin Mary; the Assumption of Mary tells us that her body didn't decay but was raised to heaven.

The Feast of Our Lady gives a reminder why having Our Blessed Mother in our lives is a blessing, the Pastor's Notes said in the Aug. 23 bulletin of St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Parish in Scottsdale.

On Aug. 22, the Feast of Our Lady, Mother and Queen was celebrated to "recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb," the Ven. Pius XII, As. Coeli Reginam, is quoted in the Pastor's Notes.

During her Assumption, Mary was crowned Queen of heaven by her son, Jesus. He did this for us so that we may recognize her as a Queen and welcome her into our homes.

We can welcome Mary Immaculate Queen into our homes by having a statue of her in your home and preparing Mary our Mother an alter with flowers and candles. This will give her a place of honor.

We can ask Mary to consecrate out families by setting up these alters and praying the Act of Consecration with our family.

"We should recognize Mary's Queenship, enthrone her in our homes, consecrate ourselves to her and, by this means, establish in our lives the reign of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe," Fr. Don Kline said in Pastor's Notes.