Face of Christ
Body and Soul
Photo By: Flickr/Lawrence OP
With Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, one could say Our Lady had come full circle in her love for God and humanity. Born of human parents, Mary entered the world body and soul free from sin; through the Annunciation, Mary gave her body and soul to God so that Christ our Savior could be born. When Mary’s earthly life was completed, Our Lady was taken up body and soul free from sin into heaven’s glory with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Through the love of God, Mary was raised higher and higher in holiness to become mother to us all on earth and Queen of the Most Holy in heaven. Our Blessed Mother’s assumption into Heaven signifies the loving desire God has for us—to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, body and soul free from sin, for all eternity. To do so, we must preserve the dignity of our body and soul on earth so that, like Mary, we can be raised in holiness through the love of God.
Food for the body and soul
The proper care of our body and soul requires proper nourishment which we find in Holy Communion; by this sacrament we unite with Jesus Christ who gives us His body, blood, soul, and divinity to save us. Let us remember that with trust and obedience, Mary accepted Christ into her body when the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her. Therefore, when we accept Christ into ourselves via Holy Communion, we accept Mary’s call to trust and obey Our Lord without hesitation, according the St. John Paul II.
That trust and obedience mean to live life as God wants us to live it—free from sin. Holy Communion separates us from sin, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC 1393]. Through this cleansing, we protect the dignity of our bodies and souls, enabling us to accept God’s loving graces.
A life of faith, hope, and charity
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary is the dispenser of God’s grace and the Church’s model of faith, hope, and charity for every person in search of salvation. Grace led Mary to say yes at the Annunciation giving us hope; grace led Mary to take the role of intercessor, advocate, and comforter, giving us charity; and through grace, Mary remained unwavering in her faith at the foot of her Son’s cross.
For the love of God and humanity, Mary guides us and helps us to make the right choices for our body and soul by drawing us closer to the Holy Trinity when we pray for her intercession. Like Mary, when we receive God’s graces we can beautify this world with faith, hope, and charity by the power of the Holy Spirit for the love of God and humanity. With God in our hearts, minds, and souls, we can become more Christ-like in our daily lives—raising us higher and higher in holiness on earth and ultimately into the Kingdom of Heaven.
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About the Author
For 15 years, Carol has been the writer/editor of Journey to Our Lady, a spiritual publication that helps readers seek out a closer relationship to our Blessed Mother, who draws the faithful closer to the Holy Trinity. From her Journey, Carol has authored the prayer book, Heavenly Mother Help Me; Prayers, Poetry and Prose for Daily Living, as a companion for individuals trying to live their faith every day.
Carol is an independent writer and speaker. Her article on Marian devotions is featured in the May 2017 issue of Catholic Update and Liguorian magazine.
Carol’s spiritual reflections, poetry, and prayers can be found on her web site: www.journeytoourlady.com and on Twitter: Carol Monaco @journey2ourlady.
Carol also is a member of the World Apostolate of Fatima (USA) and a member of Association Jeanne Jugan, a Catholic lay organization that provides individuals with an opportunity to share in the spirituality of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
