On Friday, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, into heaven. As we continue our celebration of the Jubilee Year with its call for us to be Pilgrims of Hope, allow me to reflect on Mary as the model par excellence of a Pilgrim of Hope. After all, her deepest hope was realized in her Assumption.
When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he made this most startling announcement:
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
With all the Jewish people of her day, Mary was hoping for a descendent of King David to reestablish the kingdom that had been lost after the death of David’s son, King Solomon. Based on the declaration by the Angel Gabriel, her hope was that her child would be that king and rule over the house of Jacob with an earthly kingdom. Like her fellow Jews, she could not imagine her son’s promise that he would rise from the dead and ascend into heaven, and then return and take his faithful to the heavenly kingdom.
We are blessed to live after our Lord’s death, resurrection and ascension so we can live in the hope of joining the Blessed Mother and her son, Jesus, forever in that heavenly kingdom. The Feast Day of Mary’s Assumption calls us to reflect on this great hope that will be fulfilled for all who put their trust in her Son, Jesus.
Mary enjoys many titles based on her many attributes and apparitions. One of her titles is Our Lady of Hope and my favorite image of Mary under this title is in the crypt of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. I make it a point to pray there every time I visit the National Shrine because it provides such encouragement. The origin of this title is traditionally traced back to the Franco-Prussian War when Mary appeared to six children on 17 January 1871 in the village of Pontmain, France, as the enemy troops approached the village. Mary called these children to pray for the safety of the village and assured them that the conflict would soon come to an end. After the children and villagers prayed with their priest at the site of her appearance, the Prussian troops left the village and, one week later, the war ended. All the Pontmain citizens who fought in the war returned safely home. All that they had hoped for was realized!
The Chapel of our Lady of Hope at the National Shrine is a gift of the late Bob Hope, the famous entertainer, and his wife, Dolores. Carved into the façade of the altar are the words of instruction that Mary gave to the children: “Pray, my children.” The chapel features the following prayer that can give hope to all of us, especially during our times of sadness and distress:
O Mary, my Mother, I kneel before you with heavy heart. The burden of my sins oppresses me. The knowledge of my weakness discourages me. I am beset by fear and temptation of every sort. Yet I am so attached to the things of this world that instead of longing for Heaven I am filled with dread at the thought of death.
O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress. You are all-powerful with your Divine Son. He can refuse no request of your Immaculate Heart. Show yourself a true Mother to me by being my advocate before His throne. O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of Hopeless, to whom shall I turn if not you?
Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope, the grace of true sorrow for my sins, the gift of perfect resignation to God’s Holy Will, and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus.
But above all I pray, O dearest Mother, that through your most powerful intercession, my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life’s darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Savior, but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with you in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen.
This feast is the principal feast day of the Blessed Mother and a Holy Day of Obligation. I invite you to join us on Thursday evening at 6:00pm or on Friday at 6:30am, 8:00am 12:10pm or 7:00pm, to celebrate; where she has gone, we hope to follow!