Great events merit great
commemorations; we see that this constantly occurs. The anniversary
of the coronation of a prince is celebrated, that of an important
victory, and unfortunately sometimes dates are remembered that are
tragic for the Church, the memory of which cannot do other than
further sadden the hearts of
humble Catholics. But for the most affectionate children, the
most beautiful dates are those which record the triumphs and glories
of their Mother. We Catholics who venerate in Most Holy Mary the most
tender and affectionate of Mothers that one can speak of, can do no
less than rejoice on that day sacred to the memory of her greatest
victory, that is, her Assumption into Heaven and her Coronation as
Queen of the angels and of all the saints. Therefore let us pause
here somewhat to consider the power and the glory of Most Holy Mary
assumed into Heaven, to better arouse our devotion and confidence
towards her.
 |
| Dormition; Fra Angelico |
After the Ascension of
Jesus Christ into Heaven, Mary was continually on fire with a most
intense desire to be reunited to Him. And Oh! The burning sighs, the
pitiful moans that she addressed to Him constantly, that He
would call her to Himself. Without her divine Son, it seemed
that she found herself in a most hard exile. Those years in which she
had to be separated from Him were for her a most slow and painful
martyrdom, a martyrdom of love that consumed her little by little.
But behold, finally the longed-for hour arrived, and Mary heard the
voice of her beloved, which called her from on high. “Come sister,
my delight, my spouse, come! [cf.
Cant. 4, 8ff.] Come O
beloved of my heart, the time of your groans on earth is finished;
come O spouse, and receive from the Father, from the Son, and from
the Holy Spirit the crown that has been prepared for you in Heaven!”
This loving
invitation was manifested to Most Holy Mary by means of the burning
love that made her desire ever more ardently to see her Son and be
united to Him. Her heart told her that her longings were finally to
be satisfied, and totally happy she prepared herself to leave this
earth. Already it seemed she could hear the angelic harmonies coming
towards her. However, her heart was torn between her divine Son who
was in Heaven, and her other adopted sons still on earth – the
apostles. As a tender Mother, she wished to bless them before
departing this world. God, in order to render her passage completely
blissful, wanted to satisfy her desire - and in a short time the
apostles, who were dispersed in various parts of the world in order
to preach the Gospel, were carried by invisible hands to the humble
house of Mary. She was greatly pleased by their arrival, and
revealed to them that she was soon to be united with her son Jesus.
The
apostles, upon hearing that Mary would soon leave them, reacted like
children who stood to become orphans, and they burst forth in
sorrowful lamentations. She took steps to console them, assuring
them that she would not completely abandon them, but would continue
to assist and help them from Heaven. They did not leave her alone
even for a moment, and Mary in response to the sighs that they were
raising up to Heaven, braided wise counsels with words of comfort as
she addressed the desolated apostles.
 |
| Assumption; Fra Angelico |
The divine
love in the heart of Mary burned with such great intensity, that it
could no longer be contained within a mortal creature. And so the
blessed soul of Mary, as a
tied dove that had broken its bonds, separated itself from her holy
body, and flew into the bosom of her
beloved. But Jesus who ruled in Heaven with His most holy Humanity,
which He had taken from the womb of the Virgin, desired that His
Mother, not only with her soul but also with her body, be reunited
with him and share fully in His glory. And this was truly just and
right. Her body which was never for an instant the slave of the
demon or of sin, should rightly never be subject to corruption.
Now what
tongue can fittingly describe the triumphant entrance of Mary into
Heaven? If the celebrations that are prepared here down below arouse
such admiration and great enthusiasm as to move and attract the
thoughts of so many people, what can possibly be said of the triumphs
prepared by God Himself for His very own Mother? Saint Anselm affirms
that the Redeemer wished to ascend into Heaven before His Mother not
only to prepare a throne worthy of her Queenship, but also to render
more triumphant and glorious her entrance into Heaven, to arrive
there and encounter Himself along with all the angels and the blessed
of Paradise. Thus, Saint Peter Damian does not hesitate to affirm
that the Assumption of Mary into Heaven was more glorious than the
Ascension of Jesus Christ, since only the angels came to greet Him,
but with Most Holy Mary, not only the angels came to meet her, but
also the saints and at the head of all, that same Jesus Christ.
 |
| Coronation; Fra Angelico |
Mary shook
off the sleep of death which had deprived her of the angelic
melodies. The celestial spirits burst open the tomb which had
received her body; her divine Son stretched forth His hand, and Mary
followed Him, all majestic and bright like the rising sun. Sweetly
and calmly she rose from the earth, up towards the clouds and the
celestial spheres, to the boundaries of the home of the Blessed. The
gates of Heaven opened and the Mother of God entered in. As soon as
the saints in Heaven saw her arrayed in the splendor of her beauty,
with great festivity and joy they surrounded her, greeting her and
honoring her with lofty titles. Offering their homage by prostrating
themselves at her feet, by mutual consent they proclaimed her as
their Queen. The heavenly celebration was joined by the Most Holy
Trinity; the Father welcomed her as His favored one, inviting her to
partake of His power.
Translated
in English with permission, from the Italian of
the fourth book of the Letters of Padre Pio, Epistolario
IV, pp 1123-1126, Edizioni Padre Pio da
Pietrelcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, 2002. This is my personal
translation and is not to be considered official. The Friary is
currently working on an English translation for book IV.
Fra Angelico (1395 - 1455): Dormition, Assumption, Coronation
Fra Angelico (1395 - 1455): Dormition, Assumption, Coronation
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