Mary’s body is snatched up to heaven, Mary: Day 278

Mary’s body is snatched up to heaven

St. John of Damascus explores the reasons why Mary was taken up to heaven to be united with her Son.

The immaculate body of Mary was laid in the tomb. Then it was assumed after three days to the heavenly mansions. The breast of the earth was no fitting place to receive the Lord’s dwelling place, the living source of cleansing water, the grain of heavenly bread, the sacred vine of divine wine, the evergreen and fruitful olive branch of God’s mercy. And just as the all-holy body of God’s Son, which was taken from her, rose from the dead on the third day, it followed that she should be snatched from the tomb, that the mother should be united to her Son. As he had come down to her, so she was raised up to him, to the more perfect dwelling place—heaven itself.

It was fitting that the one who had sheltered God the Word in her own womb should inhabit the tabernacles of her Son. And as our Lord said he had to be about his Father’s business (see Lk 2:49), so his mother had to dwell in the courts of her Son, in the house of the Lord, and in the courts of the house of our God. If all those who rejoice dwell in him, where must the cause itself of joy abide? It was fitting that the body of the one who preserved her virginity intact in her motherhood should be kept from corruption even after death. She who nursed her Creator as an infant at her breast had a right to be in the divine tabernacles. The place of the bride whom the Father had espoused was in the heavenly courts.

It was fitting that she who saw her Son die on the cross, and received in her heart the sword of pain that she had not felt in childbirth, should gaze upon him seated next to the Father. The Mother of God had a right to the possession of her Son, and as handmaid and Mother of God, to the veneration of all creation.

—St. John of Damascus, Second Homily on the Dormition

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What reasons does St. John offer for the reasonableness of belief in the assumption? Why was it fitting that Mary’s body should be taken with her to heaven, rather than left to decay in the grave?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of Venerable Pope Pius XII: Immaculate Virgin, we believe with all the fervor of our faith in your triumphal assumption both in body and in soul into heaven, where you are acclaimed as queen by all the choirs of angels and all the legions of saints.

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