08/15/2024
Today's reading of THE ASSUMPTION.
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Judith 13:22-25;15:10-10
And they all adored the Lord, and said to her: The Lord hath blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nought. And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies. Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.
And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people:
Luke 1:41-50
And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
These readings bring life to our souls in understanding in depth where we can find the honor and glory of Mary biblically. However, I feel I need more to understand her role in one's redemption. I know if not for Mary I personally would of been lost forever. I find these stories give me a glimpse into how she rescued our souls.
Page 235 on the Assumption from "Glories of Mary" by St. Alphonsus Ligouri (one of my favorite books)
If , then , concludes St. Anselm , Mary , for the sake of sinners , has been made mother of God , how can 1 , however great may be my sins , despair of pardon ? * The holy Church teaches us , in the Collect of the Mass for the Vigil of the Assumption , that the divine mother has been removed from this earth , that she might intercede for us with God , in sure confidence of being graciously heard . Hence Mary is named by St. Justinian , Arbitress : " Sequestra . " The Word employed Mary as arbitress . Sequester signifies the same as arbiter , one to whom two contending parties refer all their questions ; so that the saint means to say , that as Jesus is mediator with the eternal Father , so Mary is our mediatrix with Jesus , to whom the Son refers all the charges which , as judge , he has against us .
A story from page 282 in St. Alphonsus Ligouris "Glories of Mary" (one of my personal favorite books)
Richard of St. Laurence remarks that Mary is said by St. John to be crowned with stars . On the other hand , in the sacred Canticles , the Virgin is said to be crowned with wild beasts , lions and panthers : " Come from Libanus , my spouse , come from Libanus , come ; thou shalt be crowned from the dens of the lions , from the mountains of the leopards . " What does this signify ? Richard answers that those wild beasts are those sinners , who , through the favor and intercession of Mary , have become stars of paradise , which are a crown more worthy of this queen of mercy , than all the material stars of heave
n.§ The servant of the Lord , sister Seraphina da Capri , as we read in her life , in her prayers to the most holy Virgin during the Novena of her assumption , asked of her the conversion of a thou- sand sinners ; but as she feared that her demands were too extravagant , the Virgin appeared to her , and reproved her for this her vain fear , saying to her : " Why do you fear ? am I not powerful enough to obtain for thee from my Son the salvation of a thou- sand sinners ? Behold them , I have already obtained it . " She then led her in spirit to paradise, and there showed her the souls of innumerable sinners who had merited hell , and had afterwards been saved by her intercession , and were already enjoying eternal bliss.
Revelation 11:19And the temple of God was opened in heaven. And the Ark of his Testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 12:1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.
