Mary’s body rests in the tomb, Mary: Day 277

Mary’s body rests in the tomb

Immediately after her death, Mary’s body is laid in her tomb. St. John of Damascus imagines that tomb, and venerates the body resting there. But it won’t rest there for long.

O sacred and wonderful, holy and venerable body, ministered to now

by angels, standing by in lowly reverence! Demons tremble. Men approach with faith, honoring and venerating her, greeting her with their eyes and lips, and in doing so, drawing down upon themselves abundant blessings.

A rich fragrance sprinkled upon clothes or places leaves its scent even after it has been withdrawn. In the same way, now that holy, undefiled body, belong- ing to God, filled with heavenly fragrance, the rich source of grace, is laid in the tomb so that it may be translated to a higher and better place. Nor did she leave the grave empty: Her body imparted to it a heavenly fragrance, a source of heal- ing and of all good for those who approach it with faith.

We, too, approach you today, O Queen. O Virgin Mother of God, we steady our souls with our trust in you, as with a strong anchor. We lift up mind, soul, and body, and all ourselves to you, rejoicing in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And in doing so we reach through you the Lord who is beyond our reach on account of his majesty.

The divine Word made flesh taught us that the honor shown to servants is honor shown to our common Lord. So how can we possibly neglect to show honor to you, his mother? Isn’t such honor most desirable? Aren’t you honored as the very breath of life? In this way we can best show our service to our Lord himself. —St. John of Damascus, First Homily on the Dormition

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What would it have been like to enter Mary’s tomb and pay my respects?

What would it have been like to visit again, and find that her body was no longer there?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of St. John of Damascus: Lord, we recall the memory of your most precious gift, Mary, as the cause of our lasting joy. How she fills us with gladness! The mind that dwells on this holy treasury of your grace enriches itself.

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