Today we honor Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven. This glorious event is cause for great hope, because it is a sign that our Lord will be faithful to fulfill the promise He made to us in John 14:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.
(v. 3-4)
Jesus made this promise to His disciples, sinners just like me and you, who doubted the Lord, despite all the times He’d proven Himself to them in the past. They had a hard time wrapping their heads around this idea of knowing the way to a place they’d never been (v. 5).
We hear Jesus’ response in John 14:6
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes the the Father except through me.
Jesus is the Road that each of us must walk upon if we wish to make it to the place He is preparing for us in His Father’s house (v. 2). But instead of just setting us on a road and wishing us the best, our Lord, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, gives us an example to follow, a fellow Pilgrim, Our Blessed Mother, who has walked this Road and knows all the the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious places that it leads. He gave us His Mother to be our guide along the way, leading us always closer to Her Son.
Mary’s life calls us higher because it is a direct route to the Heart of Jesus. During her life on earth, she gave her unreserved, “Yes!” to the Lord, and at the end of her life she was brought before Him body and soul – through His power and His love – without tasting death or knowing corruption.
In the same way, we who strive to be faithful to our Baptismal vows should pray to become ever more obedient to the will of God, and docile to the Holy Spirit. Then, although it is extremely unlikely that any of us will be assumed into Heaven before our death, Christ will draw us into Himself at the end of time, and we will know that perfect union with the Lord that Our Lady has lived in from the beginning. We will be given glorified bodies, and receive the crown of everlasting life, if only we will persevere in walking the Road of Mary. In this we have confidence, because all these promises have already been fulfilled in our Blessed Mother.
As a side note: if you’re reading this, I’ve been praying for you! In fact, many of the contributors here at Virtuous Planet have just finished a novena in honor of the Assumption, offered for your intentions and the intentions of the site. So congrats, dear reader! You are thoroughly covered in the prayers of Our Lady.
Together with all the members of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary around the world, I will be praying a second novena for you beginning tomorrow. Below you will find the novena prayer; please join me in lifting up all the editors, contributors, and especially the readers of Virtuous Planet to the Lord through Our Lady.
If you have specific intentions you would like to have prayed for, please leave them in the comments below, or shoot me an email using the address you can find on this page of my blog, Catholic Unveiled. Pax et bonum, everyone!
Novena Prayer
August 16 – 24O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of men, we believe with all the fervor of our faith in your triumphal Assumption into Heaven, body and soul, where you are acclaimed as Queen of all the choirs of angels, and the countless multitude of saints. We unite with them in thanking and praising God who has exalted you above all the heavenly hosts.
In your mercy, dearest Mother, look down upon our struggles and our weaknesses. Help us to remain pure, mind and body, to bear the crosses of life, and to live and die in close union with your Divine Son. Intercede with Him on our behalf, and obtain the graces and favors we ask in this Novena.
(Here mention your requests.)The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
(Add your daily Rosary)
