The Assumption of Mary, Glory to the Lord
For those who are unaware of what the Assumption is, the Assumption as defined by Pope Pius XII when he dogmatically defined it in 1950 "The Immaculate Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". Plainly put, and I will get into her titles below, is that when she had lived out her life here on earth, that is to say at the point of death, she was taken up body and soul into heaven. This act of assumption is not new, in fact it had happened to three figures in the Old Testament, i.e. Enoch (1, 2, 3, 4), Moses (1, 2, 3), and Elijah(1, 2, 3).
The titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or more appropriately reiterated by Pope Pius XII in his dogmatic definition. Immaculate refers to her immaculate conception where Christ saved and preserved the Blessed Virgin Mary from original sin by the merit of His passion, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. God being outside of time preserved her from original sin at the moment of her conception. This made her pure and full of His grace, hence the Angel Gabriel saying "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you". Mother of God, as stated above is due to Jesus being God, and the Blessed Virgin Mary being His mother, this as affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. And the "Ever-Virgin" points to her perpetual virginity which was affirmed by the Early Church Fathers, specifically St. Jerome, who compiled and wrote the Bible in one language, he wrote a defense of her perpetual virginity in the 380s. Basically, all titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary are due to her relation to her Son Jesus Christ.
But what does the mystery of the Assumption give us? And how does it bring us closer to Christ? It gives us a glimpse at the promised resurrection and glorified life that we will have with God in heaven. It is important to understand that we are made body and soul. Our soul is made in the image and likeness of God, but He made us with a body as well. So, our glorified state after our death and resurrection will be one of our unified body and soul, in the eternal presence of God. The Blessed Virgin Mary was taken to be with her Son in heaven, in her resurrected and glorified state, as body and soul in heaven for all eternity.
The Scriptural Rosary is:
- The Fourth Glorious Mystery is: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Pater Noster …
- Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women on earth. (Judith 13:23)
- Ave Maria …
For He has so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouths of men. (Judith 13:25) - Ave Maria …
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, (Luke 1:46) - Ave Maria …
- And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; (Luke 1:47-48)
- Ave Maria …
- In every nation which shall hear thy name, the God of Israel shall be magnified on occasion of thee. (Judith 13:31)
- Ave Maria …
- Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our people. (Judith 15:10)
- Ave Maria …
- Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, for the king shall desire your beauty, for he is the Lord thy God, and Him they shall adore. (Ps. 44:11-12)
- Ave Maria …
- And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and there came flashes of lightning, and peals of thunder. (Rev. 11:19)
- Ave Maria …
- And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. (Rev. 12:1)
- Ave Maria …
- Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wondrous deeds. (Ps. 97:1)
- Ave Maria …
- O My Jesus …
- Gloria Patri …
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