The Assumption of Mary

The Assumption of Mary

A Meditation on the Fourth Mystery of the Rosary

Your mother, whom You gave to us
at the end of Your earthly life,
Our loving mother, who nurtured You,
and protected and taught You,
also longs to nurture and protect and to teach us.
To intercede on our behalf with You, Oh Lord,
for our deepest longings and concerns.

Who could leave this one, this holy one,
to rot in an earthly grave?
If He had the power to lift her up
and out of earth’s claim,
what Son would not, Oh Glorious Lord?

Would You, Oh God,
who chose this unblemished woman
and caused her to be overshadowed
by Your Holy Spirit,
would You not agree with Your Son
that His Mother, Your Spouse —
this perfect handmaiden of the Lord —
should be raised up from earth’s corruption?

And so we rejoice in this holy woman,
who loved You and who loves all Your lowly creatures,
whom You gave into her care.

She, who entered into Your passion, Oh Lord —
as any mother would,
into the heart-piercing pain foretold by Simeon —
as with Your life, death and resurrection,
she cooperated with You, Oh Jesus,
doing her part in redeeming the sins
of our first mother, Eve.

With her ’yes’ to You, Oh God,
she consented to becoming our ‘New Eve’
in Your perfect correction of our world.

*****

Be with us now, Holy Mother,
as we give thanks for You.
Intercede for us with Your Son
that through His grace,
we might learn to become more like you
in your obedience and humility and
in your gentle kindness and compassion.