On 15 August, we celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary. In 1950, Pope Pius XII defined this mystery as a truth of faith, affirming that the Virgin, "having ended her earthly life, was taken up body and soul into heaven." Many parishes and cities around the world commemorate this solemnity. We too, Religious and friends of the Assumption, celebrate this feast with great joy.
Looking for its origin, we find that the New Testament in fact says nothing about the end of Mary's life. Some ancient traditions held that she died a natural death; others, that she died a martyr; still others, that she did not die but was taken up into heaven like the prophet Elijah. In the Eastern Church one speaks of a "dormition," that is, she fell asleep and was raised to heaven without knowing death. The Church's magisterium affirms that "since Christ died, it would be difficult to maintain the contrary regarding his Mother"[1]; in other words, Mary shared in death in perfect communion with Christ, who thus brought the mystery of the Redemption to its fulfilment.
But beyond explaining in material terms how Mary's passage to the fullness of God took place, let us allow ourselves to be inspired by the meaning of this mystery.
Saint Marie Eugénie, following Father Combalot, saw our educational work as the mission of "raising up" women through education. In fact, in French, "to educate" is also expressed as "to raise up" (élever). This means that, beyond developing the learning proper to school, our education seeks to help young people rise above self-referential and petty interests; to learn broadly, to become passionate about the great causes of humanity and — from these principles and convictions — to commit themselves to changing something within their own small sphere of action. This educational action is integral: it seeks to transform intelligence, affections and will, that is, mind, heart and hands set to work. It is a colossal task that involves processes of conversion, transformation and humanisation[2], first of all in educators, who will thus be able to inspire and accompany, as witnesses and points of reference.
One of the great means that Marie Eugénie suggests for living out these processes is the interiorisation and contemplation of the Gospels, walking with Mary through the mysteries of her Son:
Accompany Mary to Calvary, to the tomb, to the Resurrection, to the Ascension. Try to understand the feelings she had for Jesus in these various mysteries. Pray to her that she may form these feelings in you.
May she help you to understand what a faithful, passionate and generous love is, full of faith and attentiveness to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, to his teaching, his word, his interests, his glory. May she thus inspire you and bring it about that He be formed in you.
May she help you to understand all the love and consolation that Jesus found in her, for our Lord found great consolation in the heart of his mother[3].
Mary is, then, our companion on the journey, who offers us keys for understanding the identity and mission of her Son, so that our life may be configured to his. In this sense she is our model, for, accompanying the growth and maturing of Jesus, understanding little by little — amid joys, bewilderment and pain — the path of Jesus, she lets herself be configured to Him and takes on his redemptive destiny. She accompanies the disciples at the beginnings of the Church, becoming mother of all, apostle and witness. Thus she completes her own human path of transfiguration and assumption.
These processes of conversion, transformation and humanisation that we are called to live as "children of the Assumption" have practical consequences for our person and our life. Marie Eugénie explains this to us in her teachings on joyful detachment[4]:
The Most Blessed Virgin, who rises above the earth, calls us to rise up with her, to place our thoughts and affections in God. Our whole spirit leads to a joyful detachment, to rising above sufferings and difficulties, without dwelling on complaints, without wasting time on them, drawing from all that happens the greatest possible good for God and his glory.
The mystery of the Assumption is our final destiny and the beacon that shows us the way. It invites us to step out of our self-referential perspective, to rise above what is not essential, to transform our old habits and useless paradigms, to put into perspective what distresses and thwarts us, certain that any circumstance offers us the perfect space to develop the virtues that truly matter: patience, faith, wisdom and compassion. In this way we are transformed into a "faithful image of Christ"[5].
In that text on "joyful detachment," Marie Eugénie reminds us that we cannot withdraw into ourselves when history's appointment awaits us. Our witness and our creativity are fundamental today for the cause of peace, the care of life and the building of "a social order where nothing and no one has to suffer the oppression of another"[6].
The feast of the Assumption challenges us and inspires us to joy and hope. Mary already lives what each of us pursues throughout our existence: fullness and happiness shared with all in God.
Ana Sentíes, r.a. Águilas Community. Ecuador–Mexico
Notes