Daily Retreat 08/15/07
2007 Aug 15 Wed:ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY S. Holy Day of Obligation.
Vigil:1 Chr 15:3-4. 15-16; 16:1-2/ Ps 131(132):6-7. 9-10. 13-14/ 1 Cor 15:54b-57/ Lk 11:27-28.
Day:Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a. 10ab/ Ps 44(45):10. 11. 12. 16/ 1 Cor 15:20-27/ Lk 1:39-56
From today’s readings: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun.... The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.... Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.... My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord....”
Assumption and Ascension
Two related feastdays that occasionally get confused are the Assumption (of Mary) and the Ascension (of Jesus).
Forty Days after His Resurrection, in the sight of His apostles, Jesus ascended into Heaven, where He is seated in glory at the right hand of God the Father. The term “Ascension” is used to emphasize that Jesus, as God, returned to Heaven by His own divine power.
At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven, where she reigns as first among all the saints. While understandably endowed by God with the highest honor, Mary is still a creature of God and therefore not divine herself, and not the recipient of the divine worship and adoration owing to God alone. The term “Assumption” is used to emphasize that Mary, intrinsically possessing no divine power, was taken up into Heaven body and soul by God.
While different, the two feastdays are nonetheless similar in specifically insisting on the bodily dimension of the presence in Heaven of Mary and Jesus. Christ ascended into Heaven in His glorified body, not just in spirit! Likewise, Mary was assumed into Heaven body and soul, a singular privilege that will not be accorded to other saints until the end of time and the general resurrection of the body, since God created us body AND soul; He redeemed us body AND soul; His eternal plan is to unite us with Him, body AND soul, just as He has already taken the Blessed Virgin, body AND soul, to be with Him forever in Heaven!
Vigil:1 Chr 15:3-4. 15-16; 16:1-2/ Ps 131(132):6-7. 9-10. 13-14/ 1 Cor 15:54b-57/ Lk 11:27-28.
Day:Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a. 10ab/ Ps 44(45):10. 11. 12. 16/ 1 Cor 15:20-27/ Lk 1:39-56
From today’s readings: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun.... The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.... Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.... My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord....”
Assumption and Ascension
Two related feastdays that occasionally get confused are the Assumption (of Mary) and the Ascension (of Jesus).
Forty Days after His Resurrection, in the sight of His apostles, Jesus ascended into Heaven, where He is seated in glory at the right hand of God the Father. The term “Ascension” is used to emphasize that Jesus, as God, returned to Heaven by His own divine power.
At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven, where she reigns as first among all the saints. While understandably endowed by God with the highest honor, Mary is still a creature of God and therefore not divine herself, and not the recipient of the divine worship and adoration owing to God alone. The term “Assumption” is used to emphasize that Mary, intrinsically possessing no divine power, was taken up into Heaven body and soul by God.
While different, the two feastdays are nonetheless similar in specifically insisting on the bodily dimension of the presence in Heaven of Mary and Jesus. Christ ascended into Heaven in His glorified body, not just in spirit! Likewise, Mary was assumed into Heaven body and soul, a singular privilege that will not be accorded to other saints until the end of time and the general resurrection of the body, since God created us body AND soul; He redeemed us body AND soul; His eternal plan is to unite us with Him, body AND soul, just as He has already taken the Blessed Virgin, body AND soul, to be with Him forever in Heaven!
posted by FrPitstick | 8/14/2007
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