Once again, we are blessed to celebrate Independence Day-alongside the Feast of the Assumption. It is a most significant day for us, who are both Indians and Christians. India is our motherland. We call her Bharatamba-Mother India. Likewise, the Blessed Virgin Mary is our Heavenly Mother.

We are among the rare peoples in the world who have the privilege of celebrating the nation’s Independence Day and the Assumption of the Blessed Mother on the same date. This is something we can rightly take pride in.

August 15 is a day that opened up new horizons of freedom for us after centuries of slavery and oppression. The history of India’s freedom struggle clearly tells us that the journey toward independence was not easy. Countless conflicts, bloodshed, and sacrifices occurred along the way. Yet great leadership overcame all these trials and forged ahead. Those leaders had a single goal-freedom! The mighty British Empire eventually crumbled before their unwavering determination. And finally, we entered the realm of freedom. Thus, August 15, 1947, became our golden day-our moment of liberation.

As we all know, India is the largest democracy in the world, with 36 states, 1.5 billion people, and an immense diversity of languages and cultures. But these differences have not divided us-instead, they have led us toward unity. This is the unique greatness of India: unity in diversity. The struggle for independence and the freedom that followed opened up a new world for us. We came to understand what freedom truly means. We were given the opportunity to live with self-respect in our own land, no longer in bondage to anyone.

But the question remains: do all of us truly understand and use this freedom responsibly? While the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the freedom to believe in the religion of their choice, it is troubling that Christians in various parts of India continue to face persecution and humiliation in the name of religion and faith. As we celebrate Independence Day, this is a matter of deep concern. Let us not forget that ours is also a land where people have been wounded in the name of religion.

Therefore, it is essential that we strive to prevent any further injury or division based on religion or faith. We must safeguard communal harmony. Let us rise above the divisions of religion, caste, color, and creed, and move forward united as Indians. Let us work for the well-being and prosperity of our nation. Let us love our country. Let us safeguard its integrity. When we take the pledge, “India is my country,” let us not forget that we are also embracing its diversity. We need the freedom to believe and to act. And that freedom must be one that no one can take away.

The Feast of the Assumption teaches us that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul, after her earthly life. This is a truth of faith professed by the Catholic Church. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly defined the Assumption of Mary as a dogma of faith. It is one of the four Marian dogmas held firmly by the Catholic Church and is the most ancient Marian feast.

In 451 AD, when the Council of Chalcedon was held in Constantinople, Emperor Marcian asked the Patriarch of Jerusalem to bring the relics of the Blessed Mother to be enshrined there. But when they opened her tomb, it was found to be empty. This gave rise to the tradition that Mary was assumed into heaven with her body-a belief held by the Apostles themselves.

The Blessed Mother is the one who entered through the gates of heaven. She opened the gates of paradise that Eve had closed through sin. And it is through the door opened by the Blessed Mother that we are all called to enter. Many believe that Mary is the shortcut to heaven-not only a shortcut but also a sure guide to that heavenly homeland.

We are to reach heaven by following the example of the Blessed Mother. And we are also called to lead others there. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, with her inspiration and encouragement, remain firmly rooted in our spiritual lives as a source of motivation for both our own ascent to heaven and the guidance of others along the way. The Blessed Mother was the freest of all people. May she lead us into the vastness of true spiritual freedom.

With heartfelt prayers, I extend to everyone my wishes for a blessed Independence Day and Feast of the Assumption.

Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil