{"id":4943,"date":"2016-04-15T03:30:03","date_gmt":"2016-04-15T08:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/?p=4943"},"modified":"2016-04-04T11:04:42","modified_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:04:42","slug":"the-saints-vie-for-marys-presence-mary-day-269","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/2016\/04\/15\/the-saints-vie-for-marys-presence-mary-day-269\/","title":{"rendered":"The saints vie for Mary\u2019s presence, Mary: Day 269"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"year_with_mary_john_of_damascus_1\"<\/a>The saints vie for Mary\u2019s presence<\/h4>\n

St. John of Damascus imagines how, at the time of Our Lady\u2019s departure<\/em> from this world, the saints in heaven vied with the saints still on earth for her<\/em> presence with them.<\/em><\/p>\n

At Mary\u2019s death, Adam and Eve, our first parents, opened their lips<\/p>\n

to exclaim: \u201cYou blessed daughter of ours, who removed the penalty of our disobedience! You inherited from us a mortal body, but you have won for us immortality. You received your nature from us, and now you have given us back that nature transformed by grace. You have conquered pain and loosened the chains of death. You have restored us to our former state of innocence before we fell. We had shut the door of paradise, but you gained entrance to the tree of life. Through us, sorrow came out of good; through you, good from sorrow. How can you, who are all beautiful, taste of death? You are the gate of life and the ladder to heaven. Death has become the passage to immortality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then all the company of the saints in heaven exclaimed: \u201cYou have ful- filled our prophecies. You have purchased this joy for us. Through you we have broken the chains of death. Come, our desire, you who have gained us what we desired!\u201d Then the saints standing by on earth added their words, no less burn- ing: \u201cRemain with us, our comfort, our sole joy in this world! Mother, we have suffered on your Son\u2019s account; don\u2019t leave us as orphans! Let us have you as a refuge and refreshment in our labors and weariness.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can remain if you so desire, just as you can depart from here. If you depart, you dwelling-place of God, let us go, too, if we are truly your children through your Son. You are our sole consolation on earth. As long as you live, we live, and it would be happiness to die with you.\u201d When they had all fulfilled their duty of loving reverence and had woven her a rich crown of hymns, they spoke a parting blessing over her, as a God-given treasure, and the last rites. \u2014St. John of Damascus, Second Homily on the Dormition<\/em><\/p>\n

IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

St. John\u2019s imagined scene reflects a poignant reality we may experience at the passing of a loved one who dies in the Lord. Can I recall an occasion when I<\/p>\n

wanted such a loved one to stay with me a while longer, while still rejoicing that he or she was\u2014I had reason to hope\u2014on the way to an eternal home?<\/p>\n

CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord Jesus, help me to say to you, as St. Paul once said: I would rather be away from the<\/em> body and at home with the Lord. But whether I am at home or away, I will make it my aim to<\/em> please you (see 1 Co 5:8\u20139).<\/em><\/p>\n

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