August 15– Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady
“The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir” (Ps 45:10). Thus sings the psalmist, inviting us to contemplate the one who, in being assumed into Heaven, enchanted the Eternal King with her beauty.
Our Lady’s immeasurable greatness is the result of her predestination to Divine Motherhood, a gift so extraordinary that it surpasses all merit. For this reason, in her profound humility, full of gratitude and a spirit of restitution, She exclaimed: “the Almighty has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49). And St. Augustine asks: “What great things has He done to you; I believe that as a creature you gave birth to the Creator, a servant you brought forth the Lord, that through you God redeemed the world, through you He restored it to life”1
What glorification did the Mother of God receive on the day of her ascent to Heaven in body and soul? It is not difficult for us to envision it as the greatest celebration ever held there, after the resounding splendours of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcomed by the entire heavenly court, She went to take her place at the throne of her Divine Son.
Dr. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira comments2 that, at that moment, all the glorious perfections of Most Holy Mary shone forth in a unique way: her immeasurable goodness, her gentleness, her sovereignty, her charm, her virginal firmness; everything was manifested in a dazzling way to the amazement of the Angels and the blessed. Above all, the sublime trait of Our Lady’s grandeur shone through: superiority and compassion. Yes, as a result of Divine Motherhood and Universal Mediation, She is the intercessor through whom God’s mercy extends to “those who fear Him in every generation” (Lk 1:50).
In a burst of enthusiasm and prophetism, St. Louis Grignion de Montfort proclaims that the salvation of the world began with the Blessed Virgin and that it must therefore be completed by her: “In these latter times Mary must shine forth more than ever in mercy, power and grace: in mercy, to bring back and welcome lovingly the poor sinners and wanderers who are to be converted and return to the Catholic Church; in power, to combat the enemies of God who will rise up menacingly to seduce and crush by promises and threats all those who oppose them; finally, She must shine forth in grace to inspire and support the valiant soldiers and loyal servants of Jesus Christ who are fighting for His cause.”3
Assumed into Heaven, at her Son’s right hand is the Queen prophesied in Revelation: “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1), triumphing over the “huge red dragon” (12:3). And this battle gives Her even greater brilliance, as Dr. Plinio says: “Our Lady has crushed and will crush for ever and ever the head of the accursed Serpent. In so doing, She adds to her extraordinary and singular prerogatives the glory of the struggle.”4 ◊
Notes
1 ST. AUGUSTINE, apud ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. Catena aurea. In Lucam, c.I, v.49.
2 Cf. CORRÊA DE OLIVEIRA, Plinio. Festa de todas as alegrias [Feast of Every Joy]. In: Dr. Plinio. São Paulo. Year IX. No.101 (Aug., 2006), p.36.
3 ST. LOUIS-MARIE GRIGNION DE MONFORT. Tratado da verdadeira devoção à Santíssima Virgem, n.50. 3.ed. São Paulo: Retornarei, 2018, p.39.
4 CORRÊA DE OLIVEIRA, Plinio. A luta, uma das glórias de Maria [The Struggle, One of the Glories of Mary]. In: Dr. Plinio. São Paulo. Year XXI. No. 247 (Oct., 2018), p.36.
