Tag: THE ASSUMPTION

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES

15 August – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven by St Alphonsus Liguori

On this day the Church proposes to us to celebrate two solemn observances in honor of Mary: one, her happy departure from this earth; the other, her glorious assumption into heaven. In the present discourse we shall speak of her departure from this earth, and in the next of her assumption.

How precious was the death of Mary! 1st, On account of the special grace which attended it; 2d, On account of the manner of it.

Death being the punishment of sin, it would seem that the divine mother, all holy and exempt from every stain, should not be subject to death, nor suffer the same misfortune as the children of Adam, who are infected by the poison of sin. But God, wishing Mary in all things to be like to Jesus, required, as the Son had died, that the mother should also die; and because he wishes to give to the just an example of the blessed death prepared for them, he decreed that the virgin should die, but by a sweet and happy death. 

Death is called a passage, since, through death we pass from this short life to life eternal. And, as the dread is great of those who die in doubt of their salvation, and who approach the solemn moment with just fear of passing into an eternal death, thus, on the other hand, very great is the joy of the saints at the end of life, hoping with some security to go and possess God in heaven. A. nun of the order of St. Theresa, when the physician announced to her that death was near, was so full of joy that she said to him: “And how does it happen, sir, that you tell me this good news and ask no fee for it?” St. Lawrence Justinian being at the point of death, and seeing his friends weeping around him, said to them : “Away, away with your tears, this is no time for tears.” Go elsewhere to weep; if you will remain with me you must rejoice, as I rejoice, in seeing the gate of paradise open to unite me with my God. And thus, also, a St. Peter of Alcantara, a St. Louis of Gonzaga, and so many other saints, on hearing that death was at hand, burst forth into ex clamations of joy and gladness. And yet they were not certain of the divine favor, nor secure of their own sanctity, as Mary was secure of hers. But what joy must the divine mother have felt in learning that her death was at hand; she, who had the fullest security of enjoying the divine favor, especially after the angel Gabriel had assured her that she was full of grace, and already possessed God! “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee …. thou hast found grace.” And well did she herself know that her heart was burning continually with divine love, for that as Bernardine de Bustis says, Mary, by a singular grace not granted to any other saint, loved, and was always actually occupied in loving God every moment of her life, and so ardently, that, as St. Bernard says, it required a perpetual miracle to preserve her life in the midst of such burning flames.

Cedrenus, Nicephorus, and Metaphrastes, relate, that the Lord, some days before his death, sent to her the angel Gabriel, the same who once announced to her that she was the blessed woman chosen to be the mother of God: My Lady and Queen, said the angel to her, God has already graciously heard thy holy desires, and he has sent me to tell thee to prepare to leave the earth, for he wishes thee with him in paradise. Come then, to take possession of thy kingdom, for I and all its holy citizens await and desire thee. After receiving this precious intelligence, she imparted it to St. John, and we may imagine with what grief and tender emotion he heard this news; he who for so many years had been near her as a son, and had enjoyed the celestial conversation of this most holy mother. She then visited anew the holy places of Jerusalem, tenderly taking leave of them, especially of Calvary, where her beloved Son had died. And then she returned to her poor dwelling to prepare for death. During this time the angels did not cease to come and visit this their beloved queen, consoling themselves with the thought that they should soon see her crowned in heaven. 

But behold, Jesus himself comes to take his mother to the kingdom of the blessed.

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, PAPAL DECREE, papal ENCYCLICALS, PAPAL ENCYLICALS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on VICE, THE ASSUMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 15 August – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 15 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” –The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven

“In their sermons and speeches
on the Feast day of the Assumption of the Mother of God,
the holy Fathers and the Great Doctors of the Church,
were speaking of something which the faithful already knew
and accepted – all they did, was to bring it out into the open,
to explain its meaning and substance in other terms.
Above all, they made it most clear,
that this Feast commemorated, not merely the fact
that the Blessed Virgin Mary did not experience bodily decay
but also, her triumph over death
and her heavenly glory,
following the example of her only Son, Jesus Christ.”

Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)
From the Apostolic Constitution
“Munificentissimus Deus”
Defining the DOGMA of the Assumption
1 November 1950

“Jesus willed, however, that the Immaculate body
of His Mother would remain intact.
It was only her great love
and intense desire of being reunited with her Son,
which gradually consumed her mortal life.
Her ever-increasing love for God,
broke the bonds of her mortal frame
until she went to sleep at last, in the Lord.
If only our death could be the same!”

“Humility is the Mother of all the virtues,
even as pride is the source of all the vices.
If we wish to share in Mary’s triumph,
we must, first of all, share in her humility.
The glorious Assumption of Mary
contains a lesson in humbility for all of us!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, THE ASSUMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – ‘ … Mother of life, Source of mercy … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven – Judith 13:22-25; 15:10 – Luke 1:41-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Most blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” – Luke 1:42

REFLECTION – “Let us honour the Queen of Heaven, Mother of life, Source of mercy, overflowing delights, leaning on her Beloved. Let us praise her, knowing full well that our praise will be insufficient.

Risen above the tallest trees of paradise and exalted above the highest peaks of mountains, she will penetrate Heaven with incredible majesty accompanied by the singing of the choirs of celestial Angels and surrounded by the dancing of Angels. Happy are those who dwell in Thy house, O Lord, they will praise Thee without end! In you we praise not Eve who introduced the poison but Mary who gave life, who is the Mother and nursemaid of all, the life of all the living. In you we praise even our own mother.

May all hear and rejoice, the humble Virgin rises, crowned, to the throne of glory, may the humble rejoice.May those who exalt themselves in their presumption fall. Mary, who gives herself as a holocaust to the fullness of grace. May the Blessed Virgin, unique in her merits, stand in the presence of her Creator interceding always in our favour. She will be radiant in the fullness of glory, she who brought forth from her virginal womb, the King of glory.” – St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) Bishop, Cistercian Monk (Marian Homily VIII).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, forgive the transgressions of Thy servants and, forasmuch as by our own deeds, we cannot please Thee, may we find safety through the prayers of the Mother of Thy Son and our Lord. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, SAINT of the DAY, THE ASSUMPTION

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, a Holy Day of Obligation and Memorials of the Saints – 15 August

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven
(Feast instituted by Pope Leo IV in 847) The Patronal Feast of South Africa
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/19/the-solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-19-august/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/15/solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-and-memorials-of-the-saints-15-august-4/

St Alypius (Died 430) Bishop of the See of Thagaste (in what is now Algeria) in 394, Confessor, Reformer, Defender of the Faith against heresy, Lawyer, teacher, spiritual advisor. He was a lifelong disciple and friend of Saint Augustine and joined him in his conversion (in 386; Confessions 8.12.28) and life in Christianity. He is credited with helping establish Augustine’s Monastery in Africa. Most of what is known about him comes from Augustine’s autobiographical Confessions.
A Life of Holiness:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/15/saint-of-the-dy-saint-alypius-of-thagaste-died-430/

Blessed Alfred OSB (Died 874) Bishop of Hildesheim, Benedictine Monk, Confessor, Founder of Essen Abbey, Hildesheim Cathedral, many Convents, Schools and Seminaries, Royal Spiritual Adviser to the East Frankish King Louis the German, Diplomatic Peacemaker, he was know for his great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
His Life ot Grace:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-blessed-alfred-of-hildesheim-osb-died-874-bishop/

Blessed Aimo Taparelli OP (c 1395-1495) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, widower and father, Reformer, spiritual writer. He served as an Inquisitor-General for his Order in the Lombard and Liguria regions of Italy and became a travelling preacher in Northern Italian Cities. His name means “defends the house with the sword.” Aimo was Beatified on 29 May 1856 by Pope Pius IX.
Blessed Aimo’s Zealous Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-blessed-aimo-taparelli-op-c-1395-1495/

Blessed Alberto Berdini OFM Conv. (1385– 1450) Priest and Friaer of the Friars Minor Conventual, known as the “King of Preachers – Rex Praedicatorum” Disciple and companion of St Bernardine of Siena in his Missionary work in Italy., often called upon to assist in peace discussions between warring Cities. Born in 1385 in Sarteano, Tuscany, Italy and died on 15 August 1450 in Milan, Italy of natural causes.
Blessed Holy Albert’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/15/saint-of-the-day-14august-blessed-alberto-berdini-ofm-conv-1385-1450/

St Arduinus (Died 1009) Priest, Hermit , Monk of Rimini in Italy, Apostle of the needy, a shining light of the imitation of his Lord. 
Ardent Arduinus:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-saint-arduinus-of-rimini-died-1009-priest/

St Arnulf (1040-1087) Bishop of Soissons, Confessor, Monk, Abbot
A Holy Shepherd:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/14/saint-of-the-day-14-august-saint-arnold-of-soissons-1040-1087/

St Napoleon o(Died c302) Martyr of Alexandria

St Simplician (c320-c401) Archbishop of Milan and Successor of St Ambrose (340-397) Doctor of the Church in the Archdiocese of Milan, Teacher, Catechist, Writer, Mystic.
St Ambrose used to call Simplician father, as a sign of spiritual relationship but they were also great friends. Simplician took also an active part in the conversions of both Alypius of Thagaste and Augustine of Hippo. The meeting between Augustine and Simplican occurred in Milan in 386 and it is recorded in Augustine’s Confessions. After his conversion, Augustine also called Simplician father and in 397 he dedicated to Simplician two books on the issue of predestination, known as De Diversis Quaestionibus ad Simplicianum. St Augustine, remembered and referred to him with deep gratitude, calling him the “spiritual father of my soul” and would submit his own writings to him to review and comment.
Details of the life of St Simplician here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-st-simplician-of-milan/

St Stanislaus Kostka SJ (1550-1568) Jesuit Novice. (His Feast was moved in 1969 to 13 November).
Loving St Stanislaus:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/saint-of-the-day-13-november-st-stanislaus-kostka-sj-1550-1568/

St Tarcisius (3rd century) Martyr of the Eucharist – Patronages – Altar boys, First Communicants.
About St Tarcisius:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-st-tarcisius-3rd-century-martyr-of-the-eucharist/

Martyrs of Nicomedia – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together. No details survive but the names – Eutychian, Philip and Straton. They were martyred in Nicomedia, Bithynia (in modern Turkey).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, Quotes on SALVATION, THE ASSUMPTION, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – ‘ … Let us not weep, since we have no lasting city here below …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven – Judith 13:22-25; 15:10, Luke 1:41-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. ” – Luke 1:44

REFLECTION – “Today the Virgin Mary rises gloriously to Heaven. She completes the happiness of Angels and Saints. For it was she whose simple word of greeting made the child in his mother’s womb leap for joy (Lk 1:44). What, then, must have been the rejoicing of the Angels and Saints, when they found themselves able to hear her voice, see her face and rejoice in her blessed presence!

And what a great Feast her glorious Assumption is for us, beloved brethren, what reason for happiness and cause for joy today! Mary’s presence brightens the whole world, so greatly do the heavens shine, lightened by the brilliance of the most holy Virgin. Therefore, it is altogether fitting that the heavens resound with thanksgiving and praise.

Yet, is it not also right that, just as Heaven rejoices in Mary’s presence, we of this world, should mourn her absence? Not at all. Let us not weep, since we have no lasting city here below (Heb 13:14) but seek that to which the Virgin Mary has come today. If even now we are registered among that City’s inhabitants, then, it is fitting that we should call it to mind today … share its joy, participate in the rejoicing which gladdens God’s City today; for today it falls like dew upon our earth. Yes, she, our Queen, has gone before us and has been received with so great a glory that we, her humble servants, may trustfully follow our Sovereign, crying [with the Bride of the Song of Songs]: “Draw us! We will run to the sweet scent of your perfumes!” (cf. Sg 1:3-4). Pilgrims on earth, we have sent our Advocate before us … the Mother of Mercy, who will successfully plead our salvation!” – St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian Abbot, Father and Doctor of the Church (1st Sermon for the Assumption).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, forgive the transgressions of Thy servants and, forasmuch as by our own deeds, we cannot please Thee, may we find safety through the prayers of the Mother of Thy Son and our Lord. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).