The Mystery of the Assumption

On August 15, we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven. In 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary as a truth of faith, declaring that the Virgin, “having completed her life on earth, was taken up body and soul into heaven.” Many parishes and cities around the world solemnly celebrate this feast.

It is impossible to explain this mystery. In the tradition of the Eastern Church, it is referred to as the “Dormition.” Some theologians affirm that she did indeed experience death, since her Son, Jesus, assumed her… Beyond any material explanation of how it took place, the Assumption inspires us with the meaning of this mystery:

“Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is present on her journey of faith. In her, daughter of her people, sisters discover the capacity for a woman’s love. In Mary, everything was adoration. She allowed herself to be progressively filled with Trinitarian Life until the moment when the glory of the Lord burst forth in her weakness in the mystery of the Assumption”[1].

Saint Marie-Eugénie focuses more on the practical consequences of the mystery of the Assumption, for us and for Assumption education[2]:

1. PLACING OUR THOUGHTS AND AFFECTIONS IN GOD

The Blessed Virgin, who rises above the earth, calls us to rise with her, to place our thoughts and affections in God.

2. LETTING GO OF COMPLAINTS, OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Our whole spirit leads us to a joyful detachment from earthly things, to rise above suffering and difficulties, without dwelling on complaints, without wasting time on them… drawing from each event the greatest benefit for God and His glory.

A passage from the Bible expresses this perfectly: “All things work together for good for those who love God[3].” This is why we should not complain: our faith reminds us that everything—without exception—serves the good of those who love God.

3. ENGAGING IN GREAT IDEALS

One of the great evils of our time is turning inward on oneself. We, on the contrary, have great objectives, such as working to protect life in all its forms, and thus extend the Kingdom of God, which is “a social state where nothing and no one has to suffer the oppression of another”[4]. It would be a pity if, by living in self-reference, we were to lose sight of such an important purpose.

Let us, then, free ourselves more and more from old habits and useless paradigms. Let us leave behind trivialities, what is not essential, so that we may constantly rise toward God like the Blessed Virgin. Let us dedicate ourselves to God’s plan, to the essentials of life, and reach them through joyful detachment.

4. DISCERNING ALL MATTERS OF LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF GOD

“To radiate light, one must be filled with light… it is our freedom that becomes steeped in light and goodness” (Instruction of the Chapter of SME, May 5, 1878).

In reading and study, we must seek what is solid. Life is not long enough to read all good books. Let us leave aside the doubtful ones; let us take those that instruct without ambiguity. Then, let us allow ourselves to be set ablaze by divine truth.

The Feast of the Assumption is, therefore, a great reason for hope for all. Mary already lives what each of us seeks throughout our lives: fullness, happiness shared with all, in God.

Ancient Prayer of the Novena

O Jesus, Son of Mary, come and live in me with Your spirit of holiness, with the fullness of Your strength, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, and in communion with Your mysteries. Reign in me over the power of the enemy, through Your Spirit and for the glory of the Father. Amen.

 

[1] Rule of Life of the Religious of the Assumption. Prologue

[2] Cf. Saint Mary Eugenia, Chapter Instruction on “Joyful Detachment”

[3] Saint Paul to the Romans 8

[4] Letter to Father d'Alzon, March 12, 1844

 

Psalm on the Meaning of the Assumption (SME)

“I believe we are called to honor the mystery of the Incarnation and the person of Jesus Christ, as well as the Blessed Virgin’s adherence to Him. Mary, our mother, appears to us as the soul most purely human and most clothed with the life of Jesus”[1]. “To radiate light, one must be filled with light… it is our freedom that becomes steeped in light and goodness”[2]. “Our whole spirit leads us to a joyful detachment from earthly things, to a readiness to rise above suffering and difficulties, without dwelling on complaints, without wasting time on them. The Blessed Virgin, who rises above the earth in the mystery of the Assumption, calls us to rise with her, to set our thoughts and affections on heaven”[3]. “God directs everything, and no hand more wise and loving could guide our destinies,” “My total dependence on Jesus Christ is the secret chain of my freedom”[4]. “I see the Earth as a place of glory for God”[5]. “I love justice, honesty, purity, humility, self-detachment, ardent charity, and the desire to acquire these virtues for their own sake. To love them is to love God, who is absolute perfection, the fullness of all virtues. I cannot conceive of God apart from these realities; I understand Him only as the source and essence of all goodness, in such a way that one can be good, just, and virtuous only by a kind of emanation of His nature, which must be earnestly sought in prayer”[6]. “…the world is not large enough for my love; I would like to gather all the storms of weary hearts, and above all to be able to transmit to those who do not know Him this light and this love which I enjoy”[7]. “During this life, it is the transformation… like the caterpillar before becoming a beautiful butterfly!… but soon it will become a luminous butterfly… so shall we…”[8]. Jesus Christ, liberator present in us through grace, wants to work in each one of us for the great work of the Kingdom of God…[9] “It is madness not to be what one is with the greatest possible fullness”[10]. “Adoration is the greatest and most ardent love that can exist in the heart of a person… In Mary, everything was adoration. The Blessed Virgin constantly recognized everything she received: she gave it all back to God”[11]. “Here lies the foundation of our hope… It is a wonderful moment in our life when we begin to understand that we can do nothing by ourselves, but that in God we can do all things”[12]. “Only the Creator can penetrate His creature, lift it up, transform it, and completely inflame it with His love”[13]. “I ask God for the gift of continual prayer, to go out of myself and detach myself from all human support in order to rely solely on Him”[14]. In Mary, everything was adoration. She allowed herself to be progressively filled with Trinitarian Life until the moment when the glory of the Lord burst forth in her weakness in the mystery of the Assumption[15]. “All things work together for good for those who love God”[16]. This is why we should not complain: our faith reminds us that everything—without exception—serves the good of those who love God. One of the great evils of our time is turning inward on oneself. We, on the contrary, have great objectives, such as working to protect life in all its forms, and thus extend the Kingdom of God, which is “a social state where nothing and no one has to suffer the oppression of another”[17]. It would be a pity if, by living in self-reference, we were to lose sight of such an important purpose[18]. Let us, then, free ourselves more and more from old habits. Let us leave behind trivialities, what is not essential, so that we may constantly rise toward God like the Blessed Virgin. Let us dedicate ourselves to God’s plan, to loving Him, and to reaching Him through this holy and joyful detachment[19].

References:

[1] Letter to Fr. d’Alzon, 28.8.1843

[2] Instruction, May 5, 1878

[3] Chapter Instruction on “Joyful Detachment,” May 19, 1878

[4] Letter to Fr. d’Alzon, July 19, 1842, cited in The Origins

[5] Letter to Fr. Lacordaire, cited in The Origins, vol. 2

[6] NI 153/1, cited in The Origins, vol. 1

[7] NI 1837

[8] Chapter Instruction, April 16, 1871

[9] Letter to Fr. Lacordaire, cited in The Origins, vol. 2

[10] Letter 1563, 1842

[11] Chapter Instruction, February 24, 1878

[12] Excerpt from a conversation of M. M. Eugénie with the sisters, January 28, 1864

[13] Chapter Instruction, January 30, 1884

[14] N.I. M.E., vol. 2, no. 204 – 1847

[15] Rule of Life of the Religious of the Assumption, Prologue

[16] St. Paul to the Romans 8

[17] Letter to Fr. d’Alzon, March 12, 1844

[18] Text by Saint Marie-Eugénie, “Joyful Detachment,” adapted

[19] Ibid.

 

Images:

Image 1: The Assumption of the Virgin – Annibale Carracci – Copyright © Museo Nacional del Prado

Image 2: The Assumption of the Virgin – Juan Martín Cabezalero – Copyright © Museo Nacional del Prado

 

Images :

Image 1 : L’Assomption de la Vierge – Annibale Carracci – Copyright © Museo Nacional del Prado

Image 2 : L’Assomption de la Vierge – Juan Martín Cabezalero – Copyright © Museo Nacional del Prado