Today we celebrate with great joy the reception of Mary - body and soul - into heaven. I find it hard to understand why some Christians find this dogma so difficult to accept! After some time in purgatory, we all hope to go to heaven when we die - and at the end of time to have resurrection bodies. In this way we share in the resurrection of Christ. Because Mary was conceived without spot of original sin, she was able to achieve this goal straight away when she died - and now that she is in heaven, she is pleading to her Son on our behalf.
Small wonder we pray:
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed in the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The lovely photo is of the statue of the Virgin and Child in St Bridget's Church, Pitlochry. I said a prayer there before attending Mass on Sunday 5 August.
Let us ask Our Lady to lead our praises on this festival day:
O higher than the cherubim,
More glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou Bearer of the eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Happy Feast!
2 comments:
Stunning Peter - may I borrow?
With pleasure!
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