Mary's Assumption Reminds Us That Our True Dwelling Place Is in Heaven

MARY'S ASSUMPTION REMINDS US THAT OUR TRUE DWELLING PLACE IS IN HEAVEN

Pope John Paul II

Angelus 15 August 1996

1. "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen" (Rv 11:19). Today, the Solemnity of Mary's Assumption into heaven, my prayer is united with that of believers all over the world in praising the Mother of the Lord.

We turn to her with faith, as the Second Vatican Council suggests, so "that she, who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers, may now, exalted as she is above all the angels and saints, intercede before her Son in the fellowship of all the saints, until all families of people, whether they are honoured with the title of Christian or whether they still do not know the Saviour, may be happily gathered together in peace and harmony into one People of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity" (Lumen gentium, n. 69).

2. We greet you, glorious Mother of the Redeemer, Ark of the Covenant, in whom the mystery of Redemption was fulfilled: in you the promise of Emmanuel, God-with-us, became a reality, and God was made our brother.

We greet you, humble Handmaid of the Lord, who gave the Son of God to mankind, and, as the obedient Woman, by your fiat you taught us to accept with docility all that he asks of us.

We greet you Blessed Virgin, who accompanied and followed your divine Son, suffering and crucified, to his death, and at the foot of the Cross became "our Mother", Mother of the Church and of all humanity.

We greet you, Virgin who prayed with the Apostles in the Upper Room: by your intercession for us you obtained the gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews heaven and earth.

We greet you, glorious Virgin, in the mystery of your Assumption into heaven: in you God the Father anticipated what he intends to accomplish at the end of time for all those who die in communion with Jesus Christ, his Son and your Son.

We greet you, Queen of Angels and Saints; you intercede for us from heaven and sustain us on our earthly pilgrimage to the promised land: Keep our faith alive, our hope firm and our love fervent for God and for our brothers and sisters.

3. In contemplating the mystery of your Assumption O Mary, let us learn to evaluate earthly affairs in the proper light. Help us never to forget that our true and definitive dwelling place is heaven, and support us in our effort to live together here below in ever greater brotherhood and solidarity. Make us workers of justice and peacemakers in the name of Christ, our true peace.

Blessed Virgin, as you guide us like a bright star towards the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, grant that every man and every woman may recognize Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb, as their own Saviour.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
21 August 1996

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