You no doubt brought a smile to our Blessed Mother's face! God bless you for that!
Divine Liturgy was at 7pm. There were 12 of us in attendance. No matter, Francis' two children served as acolytes (in full cassock and surplice) and our organist was there as well. Father picked up one of the seasoned parishioners who can no longer drive and brought her to church.
Two of the parishioners who showed up were confused because they have a religious calendar on their wall that does not indicate today as a Holy Day of Obligation. Both are older and recalled that it used to be when they were younger, so they "took the chance". Father welcomed them graciously, so pleased that they had come. He spoke with his mother earlier today and she described the churches in Lebanon as packed to overflowing. It's a MAJOR Holy Day in the East.
In his homily, Father noted that these feast days were intentionally placed in the liturgical calendar to coincide with specific aspects of harvest. August 15, throughout most of the northern hemisphere, is the beginning of grape harvest. In the East, they connect Mary to the grape harvest with the title 'Mother of the Harvest' (or something like that), always drawing us back to her role in the Divine plan of Redemption.
He also spoke of the great honor given her by God to bear Him in human form. And the respect due her for accepting. (Father's choice of words was much better than mine). One thing he said that grabbed my heart was that Jesus would not allow His mother's death to be like that of other mortals. Out of great love and respect, He came to bring her home to her place at his side in Heaven. She is the only woman ever assumed to heaven and because of that special bond of love between her and her Son, she is much more than a saint. She is our intercessor and we should bring our problems to her to lay before her Son.
What a beautiful Mass! What a wonderful priest! How I wish I could fill these pews for him with catholics who want to hear the homilies he delivers. I'll have to bring this to Mary :-) and ask her to intercede. If our Lord could lead me here, surely He can and will lead others.
Happy Feast of the Assumption to you all!