Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-15-06, Solemnity, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 08-15-06 | New American Bible

[Salvation]

August 15, 2006

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mass during the Day

Psalm: Monday 34

Reading 1
Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed One.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16

R. (10bc) The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

Reading II
1 Cor 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death,
for “he subjected everything under his feet.”

Gospel
Lk 1:39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

[Salvation]

Solemnity of the Assumption

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

Other Articles by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

Solemnity of the Assumption

08/15/06

		I once asked a college theology class if anyone could explain the doctrine of the Assumption. A student replied, “Yeah, that’s the teaching whereby the Catholic Church ‘assumes’ that Mary is in heaven.”
In This Article... Greatest of Marian Feasts Something Unique about Mary No Decay, No Delay

Greatest of Marian Feasts

There’s a bit more to it than that. The Church does not just “assume” that any canonized saint in is in heaven. Rather, it authoritatively declares that a person is in glory and should therefore be honored in liturgy and imitated in life. Our church calendar is filled with saints’ days.

But why a particular day for each saint? The first evidence for this goes back to 155 AD, to a bishop named Polycarp. The account of his martyrdom notes that after his execution, the faithful collected his bones, more precious than gold, and put them in a place of honor where every year they gathered to celebrate the anniversary of his death as a sort of “birthday” into eternal life. Celebrating Mass in the catacombs over the relics of the martyrs led to the practice of putting relics in the main altar of every church. Eventually saints who did not die a martyr’s death were also commemorated on their heavenly “birthday” and their relics were accorded great honor.

From very early times, August 15 has been observed as the “birthday” of our Blessed Lady. On this greatest of all Marian feasts we celebrate the greatest moment of her life — being permanently reunited with her son and sharing His glory.

Something Unique about Mary

All the saints experience the “beatific vision” upon their entry into heaven, and we celebrate this on every saint’s day. But there is something unique about Mary’s day. The Catholic Church teaches authoritatively that it is not just Mary’s soul that was admitted to God’s glory, but that at the end of her earthly life, Mary’s body as well as her soul was assumed into heaven by the loving power of God.

There is no eyewitness account of this actual event recorded in the Bible. Come to think of it, though, no one witnessed the actual resurrection of Jesus, either. The evidence was an empty tomb and eyewitness reports that the Risen Lord had appeared to them.

Interesting parallel here. There is a tomb at the foot of the Mount of Olives where ancient tradition says that Mary's body was placed. But there is nothing inside. There are no relics, as with other saints. And credible apparitions of Mary, though not recorded in the New Testament, have been recorded from the 3rd century till today.

Mary is not equal to Christ, of course. Jesus, though possessing a complete human nature, is the Eternal Word made flesh. Mary is only a creature.

But she is a unique creature, the highest of all creatures. This is not just because she was born without the handicap of original sin. Eve and Adam were born free of sin as well, but it did not stop them from sinning as soon as they had the chance. Mary instead chose, with the help of God’s grace, to preserve her God-given purity throughout the whole of her life.

No Decay, No Delay

The bodily corruption of death was not God’s original plan. It came into the world through sin, as St. Paul says “the sting of death is sin” (I Cor 15:56). So it is fitting that she who knew no sin should know no decay and no delay in enjoying the full fruits of her son’s work. It is fitting that she who stood by Christ under the Cross should stand by Him bodily at the right hand of the Father. “The Queen stands at your right hand, in gold of Ophir” (Ps 45). Enoch and Elijah, who the Old Testament says were assumed into heaven, were surely great in God’s eyes. But they do not begin to compare with the immaculate mother of His Son.

We too, one day, insofar as we accept God’s grace, will stand at His right hand. But Paul says that “all will come to life again, but each one in proper order” (I Cor 15:23). The Redeemer, of course, blazes the resurrection trail. But who is to be first among His disciples? The one who is last is first: the Lord’s humble handmaid who did no more than say yes, and kept saying yes, and whose soul magnified not herself, but the Lord.


Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He now directs www.crossroadsinitiative.com, which offers Catholic resources for RCIA, adult faith formation, and teens, with a special emphasis on the Year of the Eucharist, the Theology of the Body, the early Church Fathers, and the sacrament of confirmation.

[Teófilo]

From the pages of Vivificat!

Today we celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady, the Theotokos, Mary Most Holy

Today we remember a deed of power: Our Lord Jesus Christ called his Mother to himself, in body, soul, and spirit.

For Catholic Christians this means something simultaneously simple and grandiose: that the resurrection of the dead has been verified in Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Our Mother. She has received her crown, and she is as close to God as a mere creature can get, closer to Him than the Seraphim and the Cherubim. The Church rightly sings:

You are truly deserving of glory, O Theotokos, the ever-blessed and most pure Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who as a Virgin gave birth to God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify you.

The Church also rightly prays:

Under your protection, we hasten, O Virgin Birth-giver of God. Do not turn away from us in our time of need, but pure and blessed Lady, save us!

Redemption has been completed: A Man redeemed Mankind by dying on a cross and restored our life by rising triumphantly from the dead, thus removing the guilt of Adam; by calling Woman upon himself, he then restored Womankind to her rightful place in this New Eve.

Powerful and glorious are the deeds of Our Lord!

The Lord has called his Ark of his Majesty into his Tent!

This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

[NYer]

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Hymn of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Maronite Catholic Hymn for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary taken from the Book of Offering, Maronite Catholic Church.

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Alleluia! O Mother who gave Life to us, petition on our behalf the Son who appeared from you: may he remove from us the blows of punishment, and keep away divisions and disputes. May he lead us in the path of life in which we journey at all times. On your memorial day, we sing praise to your only Son.

Alleluia! Blessed are you, O Mary, for God, who feeds all creatures, was nourished by you and rested on your breast. O Wonder! The Son of God was nourished by a human creature! He assumed what is ours and gave us what is his. On his mother's memorial let us proclaim: Glory to you, O Lord.

Alleluia! As dew was falling gently over the city of Ephesus Saint John wrote to its people. He instructed them to celebrate the memory of the Blessed Mary, three times each year: In January, during the time of planting of the seeds; in May, during the time of harvest; and in August, during the time of the grapes. For the mysteries of life are prefigured in these months.

Alleluia! On your memorial day, O Blessed Mary, angels and mortals are overwhelmed with joy. The dead rejoice in their tombs because of the glory in creation. God will bless those who celebrate your memory with faith and pour his mercy upon them.

Alleluia! Who is to see a new ship sustaining the One who is mighty; the One who sustains and rules all creation. Mary bore him, yet he bears all creation. He nourishes all living creatures, yet she nourished him with her milk. He is the Maker of all infants, yet he dwelt, as an infant, in her womb. The fiery beings in the heights sing hymns of praise to him! Alleluia!

[Ciexyz]

Faith-sharing bump.

[Ciexyz]

Prayers offered up for Pittsburgh PA mayor Bob O'Connor, still in the hospital after five weeks of treatment for brain cancer.

[Salvation]

Thank you for that hymn!

[Salvation]

Beautiful painting!

[Salvation]

Thanks for the Pope's homily!

[Salvation]

Pray for A Voice in the Desert

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[Carolina]

Assumption and the Doctors of the Church
Carlo Maratti
1689 Oil on canvas
S. Maria del Popolo, Rome

[Salvation]

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

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A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 121 (122)

Jerusalem, the holy city

They filled me with joy when they said, “We will go to the house of the Lord”.
Now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, built as a city, whole and self-contained:
there the tribes have gone up, the tribes of the Lord –
the witness of Israel, to praise the Lord’s name.
For there are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “Safety for those who care for you,
peace inside your walls, security within your ramparts!”

For my brethren and those near to me I will say “Peace be upon you”.
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will call blessings upon you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Psalm 126 (127)

Without the Lord, we labour in vain

If the Lord does not build the house,
 its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
 its workmen guard it in vain.

It is vain for you to rise before the dawn
 and go late to your rest,
 eating the bread of toil –
 to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep.

The Lord bestows sons as an heirloom,
 the fruit of the womb as a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior –
 so are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who fills his quiver thus:
 when he disputes with his enemies at the gate,
 he will not be the loser.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

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Canticle	Ephesians 1
God the Saviour
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In love, he chose us before the creation of the world, to be holy and spotless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift of us to his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins. This he did according to the riches of his grace, which he gave us in abundance, with all wisdom and discernment, revealing to us the mysteries of his will, because it pleased him to do so. In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time, to bring all things together in Christ, from the heavens and from the earth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour –  me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed,  because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy,  his mercy lasts for generation after generation  for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength:  he has scattered the proud and conceited,  torn princes from their thrones;  but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things;  the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel,  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,  to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.

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Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

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May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 Meditation 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Imagine how deep is the relationship between Mary and her Son—and the example she is for all of us. To prepare her for her role as Mother of God, God freed her from the stain of original sin at her conception and laid on her heart an unswerving desire to love him and his people. Faithful to the end, she was even given a special participation in Jesus’ resurrection when, at the close of her life, she was assumed body and soul into heaven. Imagine—even after her earthly life came to a close, Mary continued to be our greatest example of the Christian life. Just as she took part in Jesus’ struggle with Satan, so too did she share in his triumph over death. She is the first Christian to experience what is destined for all Christians—to stand as a new creation before the throne of God and to share fully in his divine life. Mary’s place in heaven now is a sign of hope to all of us who await our share in the resurrection when Jesus returns. We too will reign with Christ. We too will gaze face to face upon the beauty of God. We too will be surrounded by the heavenly host in all their glory and majesty—we will even outshine the angels because of our union with Christ. This is our hope. This is our heritage in Christ. This is what we all have to look forward to. Today, as we aim at the goal that Mary has already attained, let us seek to live the kind of life she lived. Washed clean in the waters of baptism, let us reject sin and accept Jesus. Filled with the same Spirit that overshadowed Mary, let us embrace the power of the Spirit as we live by faith today. Encouraged by Mary’s assumption, let us keep our focus on loving and serving Jesus as we await his glorious return. Like Mary, let us magnify the Lord and say yes to whatever he asks us to do. “Lord Jesus, we pray for all those who do not yet hope for the resurrection. May each person come to know that the reason we have been created is to live with you for all eternity.” Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6,10; Psalm 45:10-12,16; Luke 1:39-56

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Tuesday, August 15, 2006 >>

Assumption

Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10
1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Psalm 45
Luke 1:39-56

View Readings  

MASTERPIECE OF THE MASTER

"Blest are you among women and blest is the Fruit of your womb." —Luke 1:42

When God looked at all He had created, He called it "very good" (Gn 1:31). Creation was a masterpiece of perfect harmony. Then we sinned and disfigured the masterpiece. With sin, death entered the world, and we were barred from the tree of life (Gn 3:24).

Jesus hung on a tree (Acts 13:29) and restored life to a deadly world. He restored the masterpiece of creation. Just as Eve began the ruin of creation, Mary began the restoration of the masterpiece. By the grace of her Son, she was sinless, "holy and blameless in His sight" (Eph 1:4), and therefore not subject to death. She is like the original masterpiece of creation. She was "very good," "blessed among women." She is the new Eve, the true "mother of all the living" (Gn 3:20).

This does not glorify Mary at the expense of Jesus. Mary does not take glory away from Jesus anymore than a masterpiece draws attention away from the artist. The Master is praised because of the masterpiece. It focuses attention on the Master. Shout with Mary: "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord" (Lk 1:46).

Prayer: Praise You, Jesus, for the miracle who is Mary! Praise You, Jesus, for a sinless one through whom You, the all-holy One, entered the world.

Promise: "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." —Rv 12:1

Praise: Mary was taken body and soul into heaven to join He Who first was glorified. "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name" (Lk 1:49).

[Salvation]

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

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This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

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Psalm 142 (143)

A prayer in time of trouble

Lord, I trust you: do not hide your face from me. Alleluia.

Lord, listen to my prayer:
 in your faithfulness turn your ear to my pleading;
 in your justice, hear me.
Do not judge your servant:
 nothing that lives can justify itself before you.

The enemy has hounded my spirit,
 he has crushed my life to the ground,
 he has shut me in darkness, like the dead of long ago.
So my spirit trembles within me,
 my heart turns to stone.
I remind myself of the days of old,
 I reflect on all your works,
 I meditate once more on the work of your hands.
I stretch out my arms to you,
 I stretch out my soul, like a land without water.

Come quickly and hear me, O Lord,
 for my spirit is weakening.
Do not hide your face from me,
 do not let me be like the dead,
 who go down to the underworld.
Show me your mercy at daybreak,
 because of my trust in you.
Tell me the way I should follow,
 for I lift up my soul towards you.
Rescue me from my enemies:
 Lord, I flee to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will,
 for you are my God.

Your good spirit will lead me to the land of justice;
 for your name’s sake, Lord, you will give me life.
In your righteousness you will lead my soul
 away from all tribulation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

Lord, I trust you: do not hide your face from me. Alleluia.

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Reading	1 Peter 5:8-9
Be calm and keep watch. The Devil, your enemy, is circling you like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, strong in faith.

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Short Responsory	?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

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Canticle	Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.  You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation,  which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;  the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,  world without end. Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.

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Prayer
Let us pray. Of your kindness, Lord, dispel the darkness of this night, so that we your servants may go to sleep in peace and wake to the light of the new day, rejoicing in your name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

[annalex]

Lk 1:39-56
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
39	And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.	exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis abiit in montana cum festinatione in civitatem Iuda
40	And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth.	et intravit in domum Zacchariae et salutavit Elisabeth
41	And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.	et factum est ut audivit salutationem Mariae Elisabeth exultavit infans in utero eius et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth
42	And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.	et exclamavit voce magna et dixit benedicta tu inter mulieres et benedictus fructus ventris tui
43	And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?	et unde hoc mihi ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me
44	For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.	ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuae in auribus meis exultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo
45	And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.	et beata quae credidit quoniam perficientur ea quae dicta sunt ei a Domino
46	And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.	et ait Maria magnificat anima mea Dominum
47	And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.	et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo
46	And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.	et ait Maria magnificat anima mea Dominum
47	And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.	et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo
48	Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.	quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes
49	Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.	quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen eius
50	And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.	et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum
51	He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.	fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui
52	He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.	deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles
53	He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.	esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes
54	He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.	suscepit Israhel puerum suum memorari misericordiae
55	As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.	sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini eius in saecula
56	And Mary abode with her about three months. And she returned to her own house.	mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus et reversa est in domum suam

[annalex]

Madonna of the Magnificat (Madonna del Magnificat)

Sandro Botticelli

1480-81
Tempera on panel, diameter 118 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

[Carolina]

One to see in person. It is quite splendid. The Botticelli Room in the Uffizi of Florence is one where you can spend all day. Thankfully, there are benches in the middle of the room so that you can sit and meditate while looking at the paintings and the museum regulates how many people can be in the room at one time.