A solemn Mass for the Assumption is celebrated

Intermountain Catholic

Photo 1 of 2

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City (center), welcomes The Most Rev. William K. Weigand, Bishop Emeritus of Sacramento (left); The Most Rev. George H. Neiderauer, Archbishop of San Francisco; The Most Rev. John R. Quinn, Archbishop Emeritus of San Francisco; Deacon Lynn Johnson; Deacon Ricardo Arias to the right of Bishop John C. Wester; The Most Rev. Alvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri, Bishop of San Marcos, Guatemala; and The Most Rev. Alexander J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle. Bishop Wester concelebrated Mass with the archbishops, bishops, and priests seated in the adjoining rows. Deacons Johnson and Arias assisted at the altar.

SALT LAKE CITY — "Our gathering here today unifies two themes set before us by the liturgy," said His Eminence William Joseph Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from Rome. "The first is the glorious Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven, and the second is the anniversary of this cathedral, which took place 100 years ago today," said Cardinal Levada at the Solemn Mass of the Assumption in the Cathedral of the Madeleine Aug. 15.

The Mass was concelebrated by The Most Rev. John C. Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Cardinal Levada, the visiting archbishops, bishops, and priests.

Cardinal Levada and the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, were joined at the altar and adjoining pews by bishops and archbishops from throughout the West and Guatemala. Bishop Wester’s predecessors The Most Rev. William K. Weigand, Bishop Emeritus of Sacramento and The Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco, also joined him on the altar.

"At the heart of the celebration of the mysteries of faith is the death and resurrection of Christ, the Paschal Mystery," said Cardinal Levada in his homily.

Cardinal Levada said the power of Christ’s death and resurrection is presented in the dramatic image in the reading taken from the book of Revelation. As a woman with a crown of 12 stars around her head is about to give birth, a dragon with seven heads and 10 horns waits to devour her child. But the child is coughed up to God and to his throne – a reference to the Paschal Mystery of the cross, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord.

"This passage is an Easter narrative," said Cardinal Levada. In the reflection on this biblical passage, the Church began to recognize early on the doctrine we know today as the Assumption of Mary into heaven."

Cardinal Levada compares the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s role in the life of Utah’s Catholics. Both are part of God’s plan, which begins with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"That second part of God’s plan is unfolding in our midst even today as we celebrate 100 years of this great cathedral," said Cardinal Levada.

Cardinal Levada said the Virgin Mother of God was taken up into heaven to be the beginning and pattern of the Church in its perfection as a sign of hope for us on our pilgrim way.

"At the dedication 100 years ago today, as proclaimed by Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican Council, and here today at this Cathedral of the Madeleine, Mary showed herself as Mother of the Church," said Cardinal Levada. "In celebrating this anniversary of the dedication of the cathedral, we are calling to mind the great work of sanctification, which has occurred in and through this cathedral church. Like every church, it is a model of holiness for those who come to pray and worship in it. It is a model of what we are and of what we are to become.

"At the heart of this cathedral is the altar. Likewise our hearts must become altars on which God is praised," said Cardinal Levada. "As Christ dwells in the tabernacle of this cathedral, he must dwell in the tabernacle of our souls. This cathedral prefigures the glory that all of creation will have at the end of time. In its extraordinary beauty, it is nothing less than a sign of the beauty of the new and heavenly Jerusalem."

Cardinal Levada said Bishop Lawrence Scanlan, the first bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, is buried behind the altar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Bishop Scanlan was responsible for the building of the cathedral, and dedicated it 100 years ago today.

"We thank Bishop Scanlan for his foresight and dedication," said Cardinal Levada. "We also pray in a special way for Bishop Wester, who today is the ninth diocesan bishop of Salt Lake City."

Bishop Wester said Cardinal Levada’s presence "honors us greatly." Bishop Wester was ordained bishop by then Archbishop Levada in 1998, and worked as an auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Levada before he was called to Rome. Archbishop Levada replaced Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger after he was elected pope Benedict XVI by his fellow cardinals. Bishop Wester was installed in the Diocese of Salt Lake City March 14, 2007.