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Fast Fact - The Assumption of Mary |
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Defense of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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At the end of her earthly life, God assumed Mary, body and soul, into Heaven. In the Assumption of Mary, God crowns which work of grace in Mary as she freely cooperated in his work of Redemption. Luke describes Mary in terms used to describe the Ark of the Covenant in Second Samuel 6. The Old Testament Ark of the Covenant found it rest in the Temple in Jerusalem. We know that the Temple was constructed as a copy of the Temple in Heaven. Mary, being the Ark of the New Covenant, by analogy, was also taken to Heaven. Both Ark of the Covenant imagery and Genesis 3:15 imagery can be seen in Revelation 12 where the Mother of the Messiah is seen in the form of a body in Heaven. (The hyperlinks will open an online NAS bible to the chapter referenced) Major Texts Genesis 3:15 – "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." Luke describes the actions of Mary using words drawn the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant in Second Samuel 6. Luke 1 and 2 Samuel 6 Both Mary and the David with the Ark "arose and made the journey" (2 Sam. 6:2 and Luke 1:39) Elizabeth in the presence of Mary and David in the presence of the Ark says, "How can the ark [mother of my Lord] come to me?" (2 Sam. 6:9 and Luke 1:43) John the Baptist "leaps" inside Elizabeth’s womb as David "leaped" before the Ark (2 Sam. 6:14,21b and Luke 1:44) Both David and Elizabeth were "joyful" before the Ark and Mary – (2 Sam. 5:12 and Luke 1:44) David "cried out" before the Ark as did Elizabeth (both used the same Greek word) – (2 Sam. 6:15, 1 Chr. 16:4 and Luke 1:42). The musicians "intoned" music before the Ark just as Elizabeth "intoned" before Mary (same Greek work) – (1 Chr. 16:4,5 and 42 and Luke 1:42) Both the Ark and Mary remained at their respective houses (Obed-edom and Elizabeth) for three month – (2 Sam. 6:11 and Luke 1:56). Both Mary and the Ark (and also the Temple) were "overshadowed" – (Heb. 9:4, 2 Sam. 6:2 and Exodus 40:1-3, 34-35 and Luke 1:35) This is more than typology. Luke is actually describing the Mary’s Visitation using terms and phrases taken from 2 Sam. 6. Psalm 138:8 – "Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength." "But even though, according to nature, your most holy and happy soul is separated from your most blessed and stainless body and the body as usual is delivered to the tomb, it will not remain in the power of death and is not subject to decay. For just as her virginity remained inviolate while giving birth, when she departed her body was preserved from destruction and only taken to a better and more divine tabernacle, which is not subject to any death . . . Hence I will call her holy passing not death, but falling asleep or departure, or better still, arrival. . . .
"Your stainless and wholly immaculate body has not been left on earth; the Queen, the Mistress, the Mother of God who has truly given birth to God has been translated to the royal palaces of heaven. .
"Angels and archangels have borne you upwards, the impure spirits of the air have trembled at your ascension. The air is purified, the ether sanctified by your passing through them. . . the powers meet you with sacred hymns and much solemnity, saying something like this: Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, elect like the sun? [cf. Cant 6:9] How you have blossomed forth, how sweet you have become! You are the flower of the field, a lily among the thorns [Cant 2.1] . . . Not like Elijah have you entered heaven, not like Paul have you been rapt to the third heaven; no, you have penetrated even to the royal throne of your Son himself . . . a blessing for the world, a sanctification of the universe, refreshment for those who are tired, comfort for the sorrowing, healing for the sick, a port for those in danger, pardon for sinners, soothing balm for the oppressed, quick help for all who pray to you. . .
“Good Mistress, graciously look down on us; direct and guide our destinies wheresoever you will. Pacify the storm of our wicked passions, guide us into the quiet port of the divine will and grant us the blessedness to come.” John Damascene (1st Homily on the Assumption) "By which words, a description of the Justification of the impious is indicated,-as being a translation, from that state wherein man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace, and of the adoption of the sons of God, through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. And this translation, since the promulgation of the Gospel, cannot be effected, without the laver of regeneration, or the desire thereof, as it is written; unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God" (Council of Trent, Session 6, 4).
"…the alone formal cause is the justice of God, not that whereby He Himself is just, but that whereby He maketh us just, that, to wit, with which we being endowed by Him, are renewed in the spirit of our mind, and we are not only reputed, but are truly called, and are, just, receiving justice within us, each one according to his own measure, which the Holy Ghost distributes to every one as He wills, and according to each one's proper disposition and co-operation" (Council of Trent, Session 6, 7)
"Thus, neither is our own justice established as our own as from ourselves; nor is the justice of God ignored or repudiated: for that justice which is called ours, because that we are justified from its being inherent in us, that same is (the justice) of God, because that it is infused into us of God, through the merit of Christ" (Council of Trent, Session 6, 16).
(CCC 2006)
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