JAN 1 - Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

Unlike the Solemnity of the Annunciation and the Feast of the Visitation which have explicit scriptural bases (Lk 1:26ff; 1:39ff), the Solemnity of the Assumption has no explicit scriptural proof-text. It is, however, part of the Deposit of Faith received from the Apostles.

It was defined as a dogma in 1950, by Pope Pius XII, through Munificentissimus Deus. In this Apostolic Constitution, the Pope states that:

“the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” (n. 44.)

Commenting on the above decree, Karl Keating observes: “Note the silence regarding her death.” Further, he stresses: Mary’s “body wasn’t allowed to corrupt, it was not allowed to remain in a tomb.” (Keating, p. 3.)

The reasons for the dogma are beautifully explained by Karl Keating in his article, Immaculate Conception and Assumption, accessible from www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/CAIMCON.HTM
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

People sometimes ask: Did Mary die?

Keating explains: "… Catholic commentators, not to mention popes, have agreed that Mary died; that belief has long been expressed through the liturgy. (The Church has never formally defined whether she died or not, and the integrity of the doctrine of the Assumption would not be impaired if she did not die, but the almost universal consensus is that she did in fact die.) (Keating, p.3.)

It would be well to take note that different words are used to describe the entrance into heaven by Our Lord Jesus and Our Lady:

We say Our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, while Our Lady was assumed into heaven. The distinction in words reminds us that Our Lord went up to heaven through His own power, whereas Our Lady was taken up into heaven by God.

For a more comprehensive discussion of the topic, you may want to refer to the article of Karl Keating.
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. brings up a point regarding Our Lady of which I became meaningfully aware for the first time, and I suspect, it will likewise be a ‘first time’ for many.

Father Cameron writes: **"Minutes after the Lord’s ascension … Christ’s disciples … began to miss Jesus’ face. In their sorrow they searched each others’ faces until they gazed upon that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And then their sorrow ceased. For in the face of the Mother of God they recognized, perhaps for the first time, the face of God’s Son.

[Saint] Pope John Paul II, in his beautiful Marian catechesis entitled Theotokos, makes the point that, by Mary’s flesh-and-blood presence among the community of believers, she became a living reminder to the disciples of Jesus’ face. So strong was the physical resemblance between Mother and Son that it served as a source of constant consolation for the post - Ascension Church." ** (Cameron, p. 83.)

Since then, "The Holy Spirit has spurred the Christian faith onward in its discovery of Mary’s face." (Theotokos, p. 36.) This process of discovery is ongoing today, in our time.

“The face of Christ’s Mother," the pope assures us, “will continue to be the sign of God’s mercy and tenderness for humanity.” (Theotokos, p.126.) Tthat is one reason why it is so important for Mary’s face to be present in heaven now.” (Cameron, p. 84; emphasis added.)
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

“One remarkable thing about Mary’s last days on earth is how long they were in coming. When Christ from the cross confided his mother to the Beloved Disciple (see John 19:26-27), it suggested they would be together for some time. Ancient sacred authors agree that the Blessed Mother’s ‘falling asleep’ or dormition did not occur immediately after the Ascension. According to the Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden, Mary lived in the world another fifteen years.” (Cameron, p. 84.)

Why this delay? St. Amadeus of Lausanne gives two reasons:

1st - “Why did Mary suffer separation from her Son? … Because that delay was no small comfort for Christ’s disciples. That delay … brought to the world the medicines of salvation … provision was made for the primitve Church which no longer saw God present in the flesh, that it might see his mother and be refreshed by the lovely sight.”

2nd - “Mary suffers delay that she may advance, she advances through her perseverance. Perseverance, joined to love and work, creates fullness, brings forth perfection.” (Cameron, pp. 84-85.)
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

Speaking in Our Lady’s voice, St. Bridget recounts: “And when one day my mind was absorbed in admiring contemplation of divine charity, my soul was filled therein with such exultation that it could not contain itself, and my soul was loosed from the body.” (Cameron, p. 86.)

“Bossuet says that Mary’s dormition ‘was wrought simply by the gradual perfecting of her love, which … at last reached such perfection that an earthly body could no longer contain it … Even as the lightest touch will make a ripe fruit drop from its stem, so was this perfect spirit gathered in one moment to its heavenly home, without effort or shock.’ In this Bossuet follows St. Francis de Sales, who speaks of Mary’s dying ‘in love for her Son Jesus’.” (Cameron, p. 86.)

Father Cameron further writes:

“St. Gregory of Tours (+594) tells us that, after Jesus withdrew to heaven with the soul of his mother, the apostles proceeded to lay Mary’s body in a tomb, where they kept watch, awaiting the coming of the Lord. For they anticipated the miracle of Mary’s bodily ‘translation’ to heaven.” (Cameron, p. 87.)

"What reasons could they have had for expecting such a supernatural move?

Before all else is Our Lady’s immaculate dignity. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that the last curse common to man and woman is that they must return to dust, yet Mary was free from this curse. Since Mary’s virginal body is the all-holy dwelling place of God, says St. Germanus of Constantinople, the possibility of that body’s dissolving into dust is foreign to it. It is not possible that the vessel that contained God himself should be held by a tomb made for the dead. Rather, he insists, it is altogether fitting that God should make Mary a sharer in his community of life." (Cameron, p. 87.)

"Bishop Bossuet says that one reason the angels rejoiced at the Assumption was that they were ‘delighted to behold’ the beautiful ‘completion of the Mystery whose beginnings they first announced.’ Through Mary’s obedience at the Annunciation, the Blessed Virgin clothed the Eternal Word with human flesh. But in the mystery of the Assumption, St. Bernard remarks, the Eternal Word clothes Our Lady with his own power and mercy." (Cameron, p. 88.)
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

In Munificentissimus Deus, Ven. Pope Pius XII gives us yet another reason for the Assumption: "… Consequently, just as the glorious Resurrection of Christ was an essential part and the final sign of this victory, so that struggle which was common to the Blessed Virgin and her divine Son should be brought to a close by the glorification of her virginal body." (n. 39.)

“The Assumption is therefore the culmination of the struggle which involved Mary’s generous love in the redemption of humanity and is the fruit of her unique sharing in the victory of the Cross.” (St. John Paul II, Church Believes in Mary’s Assumption.)

Thus, we see that an authentic devotion to Mary is always Christ-centered; for, Mary derives her greatness from being singularly and perfectly associated with the mission of Christ.
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

“Mary Assumed into Heaven: Our Intercessor, Our Hope”

Father Cameron reminds us that “…the treasure Mary finds is not meant for her alone; it is intended for us through Mary’s maternal intercession. Her words to Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana reveal that the Blessed Mother exists to be an intercessor for us before her Son … In fact, the reason for our devotion to Mary, says Bishop Bossuet, is rooted in one all-important fact: Mary’s ‘power’ with our Lord remains the same as it ever was during his life on earth … For, Bossuet observes, natural human feelings are raised and perfected in glory; they are not extinguished …” (Cameron, p. 89.)

Thus, “Mary’s maternal intercession takes the form of mediation. [Saint] Pope John Paul II tells us that, as a Mother, Mary ‘wishes the messianic power of her Son to be manifested, that salvific power … which is meant to help man in his misfortunes, to free him from the evil which in various forms and degrees weighs upon his life.’ For ‘The Church’s mystery … consists in generating people to a new and immortal life: This is her motherhood in the Holy Spirit …’” (Theotokos, p. 62; Cameron, pp. 89-90.)

“Thus we live the mystery of the Assumption by venerating this dimension of Mary’s motherhood, ‘which becomes man’s inheritance; it is a gift: a gift which Christ himself makes personally to every individual’.” (Theotokos, p. 64; Cameron, p. 90.)
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

“The mystery of the Assumption imbues us with a special confidence in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary precisely because of Mary’s closeness with God. Thanks to the miracle of the Assumption, we have been given a new, unlimited way to experience the Blessed Mother’s love! Pope [Emeritus] Benedict XVI explains that, while Mary lived on this earth, the physical constraints of the world made it possible for her to be close to only a few people. But now, precisely because Mary is with God and in God, she is immensely close to each one of us. By the grace of the Assumption, Mary shares in the very closeness of God who is within us all.” (Cameron, p. 90.)

St. Germanus of Constantinople writes: "Even though you departed, Mary, you did not separate yourself from the Christian people. You … did not distance yourself from this corruptible world; on the contrary, you remain close to those who call upon you. They who seek you faithfully do not fail to find you." (Cameron, pp. 90-91.)

“How we crave this closeness! … Monsignor Ronald A. Knox captures our longing in a striking image. He notes that the transformation of our material bodies - a transformation that we all look forward to one day - has been accomplished in the Blessed Virgin Mary. The coming of Christ has turned our hearts heavenward.” (Cameron, p. 91.)
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August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

“Mary’s bodily presence in heaven, then, changes the way we face reality, with all its hurts and trials and sorrows. It is a change called hope …” (Cameron, p. 91.)

"Mary teaches Christian believers to look to the future with total abandonment to God because, assumed into heaven, she 'communicates to them an ever new capacity to await God’s future and to abandon themselves to the Lord’s promises.’ Filled with that holy abandonment, St. Hildebrand of Fontenelle (+1133) exclaims, "You, O Lady, teach us to hope for far greater graces than we deserve, since yu never cease to dispense graces far beyond our merits.

Indeed, the face that gave so much comfort to the disciples after the Ascension continues to gaze upon the Church with love today. By that face that forever dwells with God, we see God more clearly. We trustingly await God’s future with the new, blessed capacity given to us in the Assumption. After all, the mother’s arms that once held the infant Jesus are now in heaven, opened wide, waiting to embrace us." (Cameron, p. 92.)​

O most loving Jesus,
I am all Thine and all I have are Thine,
through Mary, Thy most holy Mother! Amen!
(Short form, Montfort Consecration.)

Happy Assumption Day to all! May we all have a very meaningful and fruitful celebration of Our Blessed Mother’s Assumption into heaven; and may Our Lord’s gracious bessings fall abundantly today on all of us and on our families!
 
August 22 is the memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Collect (Opening Prayer):
“O God, who made the Mother of your Son
to be our Mother and our Queen,
graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession,
we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom
the glory promised to your children.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

"Instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1954, this feast commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s participation in the glorious and universal Kingdom of God through her special role in Christ’s Redemption. Though not the source of grace, she is the channel through which all graces are received … (Daily Roman Missal, MTF.)

For more on the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, see links:
www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/Q/queenshipofmary.asp
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-08-22

O Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!
 
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

The memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated annually on August 22, a week after the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. It was upgraded as a liturgical feast by Pope Pius XII on October 11, 1954, in his encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam.

The compilation of thoughts presented below on this subject comes mainly from the following sources:
  1. Ad Caeli Reginam, (ACR), by Venerable Pope Pius XII, available from:
    www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P12CAELI.HTM
  2. More Mother Than Queen, (MMTQ), by Venerable Fr. Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, O.C.D.
 
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

**The Queenship of Mary is not a new truth presented to Christians **in 1954 because this title and its supporting arguments are already found in ancient Church documents, in Sacred Liturgy, in sacred art, in prayers of petition, litanies and hymns venerating Mary as Queen of Heaven.

Church Fathers, canonized saints and popes who clearly laud Mary’s praises as ‘Queen’ include St. Ephrem, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Jerome, St. Chrysologus, St. Andrew of Crete, St. John Damascene, St. Ildephonsus of Toledo, St. Alphonsus Liguori, Pope St. Martin I, Sixtus IV, to name a few. (ACR, 10-25.)

Why, then, was it upgraded as a liturgical feast on October 11, 1954? Venerable Pope Pius XII explains: The feast of the Queenship of Mary is being instituted "so that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and maternal sway of the Mother of God." (ACR, 51.)
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

We know that this glorious title of the Blessed Virgin Mary was hinted at by the Archangel Gabriel when, at the Annunciation, he spoke to Mary concerning her Son, Jesus: "He shall be called the Son of the most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father … and of his kingdom there will be no end. (Lk 1:32-33.) Further on, Elizabeth addresses Mary as 'Mother of my Lord’ (Lk 1:43). Then, too, Isa 9:16 refers to Mary’s Son as 'the Prince of Peace’, and in Apoc 19:16, as ‘the King of Kings and Lord of Lords’.

The main basis then of the royal dignity of Mary is her Divine Motherhood. Thus, St. John Damascene writes: 'When she became Mother of the Creator, she truly became Queen of every creature.’

And Venerable Pope Pius XII notes: "When Christians reflected upon the intimate connection that obtains between a mother and a son, they readily acknowledged the supreme royal dignity of the Mother of God." (ACR, 8.) This royal dignity of Mary is indicated by her titles of ‘Lady’, ‘Ruler’, and ‘Queen’.
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

Our Faith reminds us that Jesus Christ is our King on two counts:

(1) Jesus Christ is our King by right of His divine nature. Jesus Christ is God, and as God, He brought us into existence. We are clearly reminded of this truth by the Psalmist:

… "Know that he, the Lord, is God.
… He made us, we belong to him.
… We are his people, the sheep of his flock." (Ps 100:3.)

By becoming Mother of Jesus, King by divine nature, the Blessed Virgin Mary becomes Queen!

(2) Jesus Christ is our King by right of conquest. Through His life, death and resurrection, Jesus redeemed all of us from eternal death, thereby becoming our King by right of conquest. Thus, because of her close collaboration in the sufferings and struggles of her Son to bring about our redemption, the Blessed Virgin Mary becomes our Queen. And having shared so closely in her Son’s struggles against the enemy, Our Lady now shares in His decisive victory. In what way does Our Lady share in her Son’s decisive victory?
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

In what way does Our Lady share in her Son’s decisive victory?

Pope Pius XII explains: " … **from her union with Christ she receives the royal right to dispose of the treasures of the Divine Redeemer’s Kingdom, from her union with Christ … is derived the inexhaustible efficacy of her maternal intercession before the Son and His Father." ** (ACR, 39) (Emphasis added.)

In his encyclical on the Queenship of Mary, Venerable Pius XII gives two additional reasons why Our Blessed Mother is a queen. **"(3) She is Queen by grace. **She is full of grace, the highest in the category of grace besides her Son. (4) She is Queen by singular choice of the Father. A mere human can become King or Queen by choice of the People. How much greater a title is the choice of the Father Himself!" (From EWTN Saints and other Holy People, The Queenship of Mary.)(Emphasis added.)
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

In what way does Our Lady share in her Son’s decisive victory?

Pope Pius XII explains: " … **from her union with Christ she receives the royal right to dispose of the treasures of the Divine Redeemer’s Kingdom, from her union with Christ … is derived the inexhaustible efficacy of her maternal intercession before the Son and His Father." ** (ACR, 39) (Emphasis added.)

In his encyclical on the Queenship of Mary, Venerable Pius XII gives two additional reasons why Our Blessed Mother is a queen. **"(3) She is Queen by grace. **She is full of grace, the highest in the category of grace besides her Son. (4) She is Queen by singular choice of the Father. A mere human can become King or Queen by choice of the People. How much greater a title is the choice of the Father Himself!" (From EWTN Saints and other Holy People, The Queenship of Mary.)(Emphasis added.)
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

Let us now look at some additional reflections from Mysteries of the Virgin Mary, by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. in the hope of better appreciating Our Lady as Our Queen-Mother:
  1. "Mary’s queenship is not something ‘added on’ to her motherhood but is rather the glorious result of it." (MVM, 94.) Quoting again St. John Damascene: "When Mary became the Mother of the Creator, she truly became the queen of every creature." As Arnold of Bonneval states: "the mother cannot be separated from the Son’s dominion and power …" Thus, union with her Son’s dominion and power makes Mary Queen in her Son’s Kingdom. Fr. Cameron adds: "Just as the Blessed Virgin is destined to be the Mother of God, so too is she to be heaven’s queen."
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:

At this point, it will probably be appropriate to stress once again that **we **do NOT worship Our Lady but we do honor her as the Lord’s perfect Masterpiece whom He has singularly chosen to be the mystic channel through whom His saving graces pass on to us. Our high regard for Our Lady is one of deep reverence, not as though she were a goddess, but because she is the Lord’s beloved Masterpiece, the Lord’s Mother, and our Mother.

More on this topic from:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=10418730#post10418730

Following are additional quotes from various saints and holy people regarding the Queenship of Our Lady. These thoughts are worth meditating over and asking Our Lady what they mean.
  1. St. Louis de Montfort notes: "It is through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus Christ came into the world; and it is also fitting that, through her, He should reign over the world." (True Devotion, p.1) (Cameron, 95.)
  2. St. Therese of Lisieux writes: "We know very well that the Blessed Virgin is Queen of heaven and earth, but she is more Mother than Queen; I believe she’ll increase the splendor of the elect very much." (From Her Last Conversations, pp. 161-162.) Fr. Cameron comments: "Thus, as queen, Mary has the power to ‘increase the splendor of the elect’; and as mother, the loving determination to make sure it happens." ( (Cameron, 95.) (Emphasis added)
  3. Saint John Paul II pointed out: "Taken up into heavenly glory, Mary dedicates herself totally to the work of salvation in order to communicate to every living person the happiness granted to her. She is a Queen who gives all that she possesses, participating above all in the life and love of Christ." (Theotokos, p. 211-212.) (Cameron, p. 95.) (Emphasis added.)
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:
  1. Fr. Cameron writes: “The majesty of Mary saves us from the scandal of our sin …” Philip of Harveng, assures us of this. He says: "The Virgin has a certain affectionate feeling of deeper goodwill toward those whom she sees to be in need of someone stronger than themselves; … The Virgin loves … to move the weak toward stronger things with loving goodwill." (Cameron, p. 96.) (Emphasis added.)
  2. Fr. Cameron continues: “As queen the Blessed Mother exercises a special sovereign authority toward those who otherwise would be lost. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches, 'Through Mary’s intercession, many souls are in paradise who would not be there had she not interceded for them, for God has entrusted her with the keys and treasures of the heavenly Kingdom.’ Even more, Mary the Queen, 'by support of her merits, … restores the repentant to the level of grace they had lost,’ according to St. Albert the Great.” (Cameron, p. 96.) (Emphasis added.)
  3. “United with Mary, the awareness of our own shame moves us all the more to claim her maternal compassion. 'The more you see yoursleves as guilty before the majesty of God,’ writes … bishop Fulbert of Chartres, 'the more you should look to the Mother of the Lord, for she is full of mercy.’” (Cameron, pp 96-97.) (Emphasis added.)
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Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary - continued:
  1. "The Queenship of Mary bestows upon us a particular intimacy with the Blessed Virgin. As our queen, says St. Peter Canisius (+1597), Mary 'constitutes our protection; she keeps us close to Christ, and she faithfully takes the matter of our salvation into her charge.’ And as St. Louis de Montfort notes, if Mary ‘wills to come and take up her abode in you, in order to receive her Son, she can do so by reason of the sovereignty she possesses over the hearts of people.’ (True Devotion, 195.) Mary’s coronation in heaven guarantees her closeness in our earthly afflictions." (Cameron, p. 97.) (Emphasis added.)
  2. Remember James 1:12? It reads: "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him"
**"The ‘crown of life’ is the reward of eternal life that Christ promises to his faithful followers. The Blessed Mother already wears that crown, and it is her joy and delight to share her royal dignity with all who call upon her in trust." (Cameron, p. 97.) (Emphasis added.)
(Pls read on for continuation of thought.)
 
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