Master of the Cini Madonna (active in Rimini, first third of the
14th century),
Dormition of the Virgin, circa 1330,
tempera and gold leaf on wood,
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Spain).
...
The Assumption is the oldest and most solemn feast of Mary. It is
not mentioned in the New Testament but it has been celebrated for at least
sixteen hundred years. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 referred to it. The
Eastern Orthodox churches, in a beautiful way, call it the “Falling Asleep of
the All-Holy Mother of God” and celebrate it with even greater solemnity than
we do. The Assumption means that God who planned the very first moment of
Mary’s life with such extraordinary care also planned her very last moment just
as carefully. At the first moment of her life, by a very special privilege of
God, Mary was preserved free from the stain of sin. At the last moment, by
another very special privilege she was preserved free from the corruption of
the grave. At the end of her life Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. In
the Immaculate Conception the emphasis is on the soul. In the Assumption the
emphasis is on the body. Both are important. They were made for each other. At
death, there is only a temporary separation. Body and soul will be reunited in
the Resurrection. The Assumption means that the body that participated in the
battle of life will also participate in the victory. Today we are very aware of
the importance of our body. We diet and we exercise. We watch the level of
cholesterol and blood pressure. We realize that the body is the vehicle of
life. We live as long and as well as the body supports the soul. We must be
aware that our body is also the instrument of knowledge. All the knowledge we
have comes in originally from one of the five senses. The body is also the
instrument of the communication of knowledge. No one can read our mind. We
express our thoughts through the body, with language and signs. The body is
also the instrument of grace. We receive the sacraments, the channels of grace,
through the body. The body is also the instrument of worship. True worship is
in spirit and truth. But it is expressed through the body in words, gestures,
genuflections etc. The Liturgy is not only expressive of worship, it is
creative of it, so what a magnificent creation is the body! The beautiful lesson
of the Assumption is that the whole person, body and soul, participates in the
battle of life and the whole person, body and soul, will participate in the
victory. This morning let us ask our blessed Mother, Assumed into heaven, to
obtain for us the grace to respect deeply our body so that one day we may join
her body and soul in heaven and to be people always in defense of life, from conception
until natural death • AE
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