On the Feast of the Assumption: Have Hope, Have Confidence

August 15, 2014

Throughout the course of our lives, we each encounter difficulties, sufferings, and trials. “Great is the anxiety all men are doomed to, heavy the yoke each son of Adam must bear, from the day when he leaves his mother’s womb to the day when he is buried in the earth, that is mother of all” (Sirach 40:1). Perhaps you are struggling with a difficult relationship, financial burdens, emotional pain, a grave temptation or a physical malady. This is the human condition in a world broken by sin and disobedience.

But no matter what difficulty or sorrow you are struggling with today, I have a message for you: Look to Mary and have hope.

Why? Mary is the icon of the Church. In her glorious Assumption, which we celebrate today, we see our destiny—her triumph is our triumph. We too, if we do not fall away, will be assumed into heaven to be with Jesus and the whole family of God. This is our certain hope.

And yet, Mary’s assumption is more than a foretelling of the marriage feast of the Lamb; it is the consummation of her role as the new Eve, the mother of all the living. In the assumption, we see Mary ascend to be our advocate and support, to be our Mother. She does not sit in heaven idly, savoring it’s joys while ignoring her children. No, she daily brings aid to them whom she loves so deeply. Thousands and thousands of stories through the centuries attest to this faithful consolation. She is the great Auxilium Christianorum, the Help of Christians.

Who is she who rises from the emptiness of this world steeped in the delights of Paradise? O Mary, greater than the heavens, you have the world under your feet, and you are seated close to God, on the throne of honor which Jesus gave you. Your mercy which surpasses all mercy draws me to you, for you are ever the aid and consolation of those who suffer.

I have need, O Mother, of being consoled and fortified. More than that, I have need of the grace of your Son because I know that without it I can accomplish nothing.

You are able, O my Mother, if you wish to lift me up and help me with you powerful succor. You can comfort me with your abundant consolation.

I feel myself engulfed by temptation, so I run to you, since I feel that near you, I shall find help as well as pity.

– Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Mary

Men, look to Mary and have confidence. She is a most compassionate mother who understands your every weakness. She loves you far more than you love yourself, and she desires to come to your aid. Trust her, follow her, imitate her. Most of all, through darkness, suffering, and trouble, look to her and have hope.

Salve Regina

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
Poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send forth our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy toward us;
And after this our exile,
Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

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Sam Guzman

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    • Jonathan Haxton says

      Just remember that No sin is too great for our Blessed Lord to forgive. As great and terrible as our sins seem to be, they are as nothing compared to the great and all consuming fount of God’s love and mercy. If you haven’t yet I would recommend doing the Marian consecration. You can use either St. Louis De Montfort’s method or use 33 days to morning glory by father Gaitley. Then our Lady will most certainly help you to over come all things. She is the mediatrix of all graces, and she will most certainly help make you a saint.
      God bless you

    • Marie says

      Welcome home, brother! (I assume that the reason you are concerned about your sins is that you’ve repented of them and want to lead a changed life.) What a blessing! Remember in Scripture where He states that the one lost sheep is the cause of more rejoicing in heaven than all of the rest put together? When we repent, it does not matter how many sins we have committed, the Lord washes them away with His blood making our soiled wool white as snow once again. He tenderly picks up our soul like a shepherd gently lifting a little lost lamb and He Himself brings us back to the flock.

      For many of us, it is more helpful to focus on this truth than on speculating on exactly how many are saved. The point of the saint writing it of course was first to encourage people to repent and turn to God themselves, and second to pray and work for the conversion of their neighbors. If for some reason due to my personality instead of it galvanizing me to obey the two great commandments better (love of God and neighbor) the writing is having the opposite of the desired effect, it’s discouraging me and making me pull back from wholehearted trusting love of the Good Shepherd, making me think despairingly of my salvation and that of others, well then do you think it might be that the saint was writing this intended for a different personality than mine? I think so.

      Every soul is different in what will help them to obey God’s commandments, just as everyone’s body is a little different in what medicine will help it towards good health, some need blood thinner so they don’t die of a clot and some need Vitamin K and coagulating particles so they don’t die of a bleedout. See what I’m saying? Some souls may need to read and meditate on the things you linked to from St Leo and some may need to shun that and instead read and meditate on writings of the St Therese the Little Flower where she talks about how very much God cares for each and every soul and if you trust in Him you don’t have to worry about anything.

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