J.M.J. (From Our Lady of the Rosary Library)
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
(August 15)
Why is this feast so called?
Because on this day the Blessed Virgin was taken up into heaven.
Why are plants and fruits blessed on this day?
The Church does this to manifest her joy at the glorious victory which Mary achieved
over death, the world and the devil, and at her splendid triumph when she, adorned
with virtues as with so many flowers, entered heaven; and that God may so sanctify
and bless the plants and fruits, that their use may serve to our welfare.
At the Introit of the Mass, the Church invites us to universal joy by singing: Let us
all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festal day in honor of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, for whose Assumption the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. My
heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King. (Ps. XLIV.) Glory &c.
COLLECT Pardon, Lord, we beseech Thee, the transgressions of Thy servants: that we,
who by our own deeds are unable to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of
the Mother of Thy Son our Lord. Through the same &c.
EPISTLE (Ecclus. XXIV. 11 -- 20.) In all things I sought rest, and I shall abide in
the inheritance of the Lord. Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to
me; and he that made me rested in my tabernacle, and said to me: Let thy dwelling be
in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. And so was I
established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in
Jerusalem. And I took root in an honorable people, and in the portion of my God his
inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. I was exalted like a
cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress-tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm-tree
in Cades, and as a rose-plant in Jericho. As a fair olive-tree in the plains, and as
a plane-tree by the water in the streets was I exalted. I gave a sweet smell like
cinnamon and aromatic balm: I yielded a sweet odor like the best myrrh.
EXPLANATION The Holy Ghost uses these words in praise of eternal wisdom, but the
Church applies them to Mary also, to describe the glory and splendor of her
assumption. Mary found her rest only in God, the Creator of all things, who created
her, and preserved her from, original sin, and lived in her womb as in a tabernacle.
On this day God seems to say to her: "Possess the abode destined for thee from all
eternity, and the inheritance designed for thee as the first of the elect."Thus Mary
is exalted as Queen of the saints and angels in the heavenly Sion; and now in this
holy city, she enjoys an undisturbed peace with God, shares His happiness with Him,
and is second only to Him in power and glory; there she shines in the most radiant
garments, like the ever-blooming rose of Jericho, from there she lets flow upon the
wretched children of Adam the oil of her mercy as from a fair olive-tree, shades them
with her protection like a plane-tree, and refreshes them with the sweet fragrance of
her virtue and grace.
GOSPEL (Luke x. 38--42.) AT THAT TIME, Jesus entered into a certain town: and a
certain woman named Martha received him into her house: and she had a sister called
Mary, who sitting also at the Lord's feet heard his word. But Martha was busy about
much serving: who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me
alone to serve? Speak to her, therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering,
said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things.
But, one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken
away from her.
Why does the Church cause this gospel to be read today?
Because it can be well applied to Mary, who more worthily and tenderly even than
Martha, received, nourished and served the Son of God, and more fervently and
attentively than even Martha's sister, listened to His words, preserved them in her
heart and sought to fulfil them. In both ways has she chosen the best of all parts,
because in both she walked in perfection, and so gained the greatest of rewards which
can never be taken from her.
What may we learn from these two sisters?
That like Martha, who is a type of active, stirring life, we should be energetic in
performing the duties of our vocation, but not on that account forget to practice
good works, to do all for the love of God, seeking in all things His pleasure, and,
since we can no longer administer to Christ in a material way, we should serve the
poor, of whom He says that whatever we do to the least of them, He will consider and
reward as if done to Himself. We are also like Mary who represents the contemplative
life, to be fervent in prayer, in listening and meditating upon the word of God, upon
the divine Majesty, its perfections and our frailty, thus to sanctify ourselves and
to become more worthy of eternal happiness. This contemplative life Christ calls the
better part, but does not, therefore, set aside the active life. We can easily unite
both, but must never lose sight of the better part.
Why does Jesus reproach Martha?
Because she was uneasy and distracted by her over-carefulness and anxiety, and forgot
to hear the divine word. -- Thus do many Christians who find no time to work for the
salvation of their soul, and even during divine service and the sermon are thinking
of their domestic affairs, and so leave the church without having gained anything for
their soul.
What is the one thing necessary?
To seek the glory of God and the salvation of our soul. He who attends to this;
attends to all his duties, he is busy and active, but not uneasy and disturbed, and
calmly directs his mind to God in all his labors, offers his every step to Him, and
draws His grace upon himself.
PETITION. Would that I had better attended to the one thing necessary! Unhappy hours
which I have squandered for the world, its vanities and pleasures! Where are you now?
What shall I have from you in eternity but sorrow and desolation? Could I but call
back my wasted life? But since that cannot be, give me Thy grace, I beseech Thee, O
most beneficent God, to pass the remaining years of my life wholly in Thy service,
and work above all and only for the affairs of my soul.
THOUGHTS OF ST. BERNARD ON THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY
On this day the glorified Virgin entered heaven and crowned by her presence the holy
pleasures of its inhabitants. But what mind can conceive the glory with which the
arrival of the Queen of the world was celebrated by the brilliant heavenly hosts,
their advance to greet her, their chanting as they led her to the magnificent throne?
Who can fancy the tender gaze, the loving countenance, the divine caresses with which
she was received by her Son and placed over all created beings, honored as became
such a mother, with the glory that became such a Son? What lips can describe the
assumption of Mary? As upon earth she, before all others, received special grace, so
in heaven she, before all others, receives special glory. If eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to know the delights that God
has prepared for those that love Him, who shall say what is prepared for her who bore
Him and loved Him more than all! O blessed art thou, Mary! Most blessed wert thou,
when thou didst receive the Saviour; most blessed art thou, when the Saviour receives
thee!
ST. BERNARD'S PRAYER TO MARY
We accompany thee, on this day, with our most ardent wishes to thy Son, O glorious
Virgin, Queen of heaven! and follow thee from afar, O happy Virgin! Give thy mildness
to the world, give of the grace thou hast found with God. Obtain by thy blessed
intercession, grace for the guilty, recovery for the sick, strength for the
faint-hearted, aid for those in peril! Dispense to us thy servants, who on this
glorious festival-day invoke thy sweetest name, O gentlest Queen, the grace of Jesus
Christ, thy Son, our Lord and God, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Topic: The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Read 281 times)