Mary’s Assumption is hope for today’s society, says Pope

16 August, 2006
VATICAN
Mary’s Assumption is hope for today’s society, says Pope Today’s world denies God His place or despairs in death. Only God’s love can quench the thirst for happiness and give value to the mystery of human frailty and death. The Pontiff remembers Frère Roger of Taizé, killed a year ago.

Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) – Today’s general audience was a bit special. Contrary to the usual practice, it was held in the courtyard of the Pontiff’s summer residence rather than St Peter’s Square. And instead of continuing his meditations on the Apostles, the Pope spoke again of the Assumption of the Virgin, the Christian festivity that was celebrated yesterday in memory of the "glorification" of Mary, the mother of Jesus, including her corporeal glorification.

For the Holy father, more and more today’s society must be aware of this feast day, "so felt by the Christian people" as a "luminous sign of hope". "Today," he explained, "there are those who live as if they were never to die or as if all should end with death. Some act as if humankind was master of its own destiny, as if God did not exist, going so far as to deny Him any place in our world. The great advances in science and technology, which have much improved humanity’s conditions, leave unanswered the innermost questions of the human soul. Only by opening up to the mystery of God, which is Love, can our heart’s thirst for truth and happiness be quenched. Only a point of view based on eternity can give historical events, especially the mystery of human frailty, suffering and death, real value".

The sign of Mary’s Assumption plays fundamental role in Christians’ journey and mission. "By contemplating Mary in her celestial glory," the Pontiff said in conclusion, "we understand that the earth is not our final homeland, that if we live constantly focused on that which is eternal, we can share one day that same glory. For this reason, despite our many daily challenges, we must not lose our serenity and peace. The luminous sign of the Assumption of our Lady in the heavens glows brighter than the sad shadows cast by sorrow and violence. We are certain that from high above Mary follows our steps with sweet trepidation. She brightens our life in its dark and stormy hours and reassures us with her maternal hand. Conscious of this, we continue confident along our path shaped by our Christian commitment wherever Providence takes us".

At the end of the audience after the multilingual greetings, Benedict XVI evoked Frère Roger, founder of the Taizé community, who a year ago was mortally struck by the hand of a deranged soul during the evening prayers.

"His witness to the Christian faith and ecumenical dialogue," the Pope said, "was a precious lesson to entire generations of young people. Let us call on our Lord that the sacrifice of his life may contribute to consolidating the commitment to peace and solidarity of those who care for humanity’s future."

Mary is considered the precursor of us all, in some ways. In Catholic doctrine, she was conceived without sin, meaning that she was not marred by Original Sin. Her death, therefore, was different, because it was like the death of someone before the Fall.

For Catholics, this is a restatement of the reality of eternal life, the goal of earthly life, and the fact that Mary (who was not God or part of the Divine Nature) has gone before us and will be helping us from Heaven, as any good mother - or even older sister - would do. Catholics see the saints as their older brothers and sisters, who are not dead but have gone before and will intercede for them. The reason Catholics can address the saints and pray for and even address the dead, who may or may not be in Paradise, is that death is no more, and in eternity, we are all alive in Christ.

"Today," he explained, "there are those who live as if they were never to die or as if all should end with death. Some act as if humankind was master of its own destiny, as if God did not exist, going so far as to deny Him any place in our world.

These powerful words are the essence of our faith and have so much bearing on how we live our lives, and how we approach the events that occur during our brief sojourn here. Epic Catholicism.

Only by opening up to the mystery of God, which is Love, can our heart’s thirst for truth and happiness be quenched. Only a point of view based on eternity can give historical events, especially the mystery of human frailty, suffering and death, real value".

Once again the pope tells us that God is Love. I'm thinking that the pope really thinks that the faithful should orient themselves to that fact. Thank you Papa. Spot on message.

Devotion to Panagia is one of the crown jewels of The Church here on Earth. For us Orthodox Christians, the idea of living and working without the close proximity of our icons of Panagia is very nearly unthinkable. She is in every way the shining example of a Christian life lead by a loving mother who is the fully human example of complete theosis. I have always thought it a great tragedy that so many Protestant Christians neither share nor understand our devotion to her.

When I was a child I went to Catholic elementary school. When the nuns taught us to pray the rosary, they also taught us the "Sorrowful Mysteries". My wife, who for the past 29 years has been very Orthodox, grew up a Congregationalist. After we were married she read the "Sorrowful Mysteries" and after the birth of our much loved second child with Down Syndrome and a serious heart defect, her devotion to Panagia blossomed as she recognized in her a mother who had endured great sorrows for the glory of God. When her very old father lay dying a few years back during Great Lent, my wife attended all the Akathist services at our parish. As she put it, she just sat there crying to her mother Panagia because she knew "she understands".

On a side note, in Orthodoxy we celebrate the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Most Holy Theotokos on August 15th. While virtually all Orthodox Christians believe in the Assumption, it is not taught as dogma but rather as a theologoumenon, or "optional" pious belief.

I thought she had an assumption. Is that not a physical taking up directly to heaven.

The Church has not declared whether Mary died a physical death or not. I think most sources or opinions is that she did die, but was subsequently assumed into heaven, body and soul. (since Christ died - more coming up on this)

The explanation for Mary's Assumption is based on the concept of Consortium. This is based on Scripture:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together". Romans 8:17

Since Mary participated in the Redemptive work (not that she was necessary, but God willed her being there and taking part), including the Suffering at Calvary, (SHE was ALSO pierced with a "sword" at the foot of the cross, as predicted by Simeon) she would also be glorified. Being the first hearer and believer of the Word, naturally, she would be the prototype of what would become of believers who followed after her.

Also if she were without original sin; than she would neither want nor need Christ's redemption in any form.

Mary needed salvation from sin just like any other human. However, God acted on her in a singular way, freeing her from original sin at her conception. Mary herself proclaims that God is her savior in her Magnificat:

"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour". Luke 1:47

God saved her by preventing her from falling into sin.

Regards

Also if she were without original sin; than she would neither want nor need Christ's redemption in any form.

Correct?

Nope. She was preserved from original sin by and through the foreseen merits of her Son.

Nobody is saved apart from the merits of Jesus Christ earned on the Cross. Absolutely nobody. Not Mary, not infants, not me, not you, not anybody.

I am confused by the word 'death' in this post. I thought she had an assumption. Is that not a physical taking up directly to heaven.

Yes, but there's some disagreement on whether blessed Mary died physically before being assumed body and soul. The better-attested tradition is that she did die, and was placed in a tomb, but the tomb was later found to be empty.

Here is the transcript from Zenit:

Date: 2006-08-17

On the Assumption

Mary Follows Our Steps With Gentle Trepidation"

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 16, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at today's general audience, held at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. The Pope dedicated his address to Tuesday's solemnity of the Assumption.

* * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Our usual weekly Wednesday meeting is taking place today in the climate of the solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. I would like to invite you therefore to turn your gaze once again to our heavenly mother, whom the liturgy presented to us as victorious with Christ in heaven.

This feast has always been greatly cherished by the Christian people since the first centuries of Christianity. As is already known, it celebrates the glorification, including corporal, of that creature whom God chose as his mother, and that Jesus on the cross gave as mother to the whole of humanity.

The Assumption evokes a mystery that affects each one of us because, as the Second Vatican Council affirmed, Mary "precedes with her light the people of God as a sign of hope and consolation" ("Lumen Gentium," No. 68). We are so immersed in everyday struggles that at times we forget this consoling spiritual reality, which is an important truth of faith.

How is it possible to make this luminous sign of hope be increasingly perceived by present-day society? Today there are those who live as if they should never die, or as if all ends with death. Some behave as if man is the sole author of his destiny, as if God did not exist, at times even denying that there is a place for him in our world.

The great successes of technology and science, which have notably improved humanity's conditions of life, do not give solutions to the most profound questions of the human spirit. Only by openness to the mystery of God, who is love, can our hearts' thirst for truth and happiness be satisfied; only the perspective of eternity can give authentic value to historical events and above all to the mystery of human frailty, suffering and death.

On contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we also understand that the earth is not our definitive homeland and that, if we live constantly oriented to eternal goods, one day we will share in her same glory. For this reason, despite the many daily difficulties, we must not lose serenity or peace.

The luminous sign of the Assumption to heaven shines even more when it seems that sad shadows of grief and violence loom over the horizon. We are sure that, from on high, Mary follows our steps with gentle trepidation, gives us serenity in the hour of darkness and storm, and gives us security with her maternal hand.

Supported by this conviction, we continue with confidence on our way of Christian commitment where providence leads us.

[Translation by ZENIT]

[At the end of the audience, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in several languages. In English, he said:]

I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at this audience, including the altar servers from Malta, and the groups from England, Ireland, Canada, Nigeria and the United States of America.

Yesterday we contemplated the Virgin Mary's assumption into heaven. This mystery reminds us that our definitive homeland is not here on earth, and that our longing for fulfillment finds complete satisfaction only in eternal happiness. May our mother in heaven, who guides us on our way, inspire us with courage and hope through the struggles of our daily life! I wish you a pleasant stay, and may God bless you all!

[In Italian, he said:]

I would like to end our meeting with a special remembrance of Brother Roger Schutz, founder of Taizé, murdered on Aug. 16 of last year during evening prayer. His testimony of Christian faith and ecumenical dialogue was a precious teaching for entire generations of young people. We pray to the Lord that the sacrifice of his life will contribute to consolidate the commitment to peace and solidarity of all those who have the future of humanity at heart.

© Copyright 2006 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]

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