👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾“Has Our #Lady, the Holy #Virgin #Mary, Been Taken to Heaven?”
Beloved children of the Holy Church, peace be to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we reflect on the great mystery of the Ascension of Our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, who was taken up into heaven with glory and honor, beyond all creatures visible and invisible.
The Appearance of Mary in Paradise
When the time came for our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, to depart from this earthly life, the holy apostles were deeply grieved, for they loved her as their mother. Yet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not leave them comfortless.
One day, He appeared to them, assuring them that they would behold His Mother once more. At that time, Saint John the Evangelist, who was preaching in Asia, was carried away by the Holy Spirit and transported to paradise.
There, under the Tree of Life, he saw our Lord Jesus Christ seated in majesty. Beside Him was the holy body of His pure Mother. “He commanded the seven archangels to summon the earth to release the body of the pure Mother of God. The holy angels obeyed His word, and at that moment, the body of Our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, emerged from the tomb beneath the Tree of Life.”
Then our Lord spoke tenderly to her, saying: “O my beloved Mother, who bore Me in the flesh, come, ascend with Me into the eternal kingdom of heaven.” At that moment, all the plants of paradise bowed in reverence, the angels and martyrs praised her, and with unspeakable joy, they escorted her into the heavenly heights.
Saint John received a blessing from her, worshipped, and returned to the earth, bearing witness of what he had seen.
The Apostles’ Grief and Christ’s Consolation
When John returned, he found the apostles still mourning. He told them of the glory he had witnessed, but they sorrowed because they had not seen it with their own eyes. While they wept, Christ Himself appeared among them, saying: “Peace be with you. Why do you grieve for the body of My Mother Mary? Behold, I have shown her glory. Rejoice in your hearts!” Then He ascended again into heaven.
The apostles, comforted, continued steadfast in prayer.
The Apostles’ Fast and the Heavenly Vision
As the month of Nehase began, Saint John said: “Let us fast and pray these two weeks, that our Lord Jesus Christ may grant us to behold the body of His Mother in glory.”
Thus, the apostles fasted from the first of Nehase until the sixteenth. On that day, our Lord appeared again, taking them up into heaven, where they beheld the Holy Virgin seated at the right hand of her beloved Son. She stretched forth her hands, blessed them, and filled them with joy.
At that time, our Lord celebrated the holy Mysteries of His Body and Blood, assisted by Saint Stephen the Archdeacon. When the Eucharist was offered, great and unending joy filled heaven and earth.
Then Christ spoke to His Mother, saying: “I command My apostles to proclaim throughout the world the memorial of your Ascension on this day. Whoever honors you and partakes of My Body and Blood shall not see the torment of fire. I grant forgiveness of sins to those who remember you and who show mercy to the poor on this day.”
Hearing this, Our Lady glorified God and blessed the apostles.
Continues 👇🏾