Category Archives: Ascension

The FOURTH MYSTERY of the Rosary – THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY IN TO HEAVEN – by Deacon Marty McIndoe

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This is the only Mystery of the Rosary that does not have a DIRECT scriptural reference. It has a very strong TRADITIONAL reference going all the way back to the apostles. This mystery celebrates the fact that Mary, at the completion of her time on earth, was taken body and soul in to heaven. The Church carefully uses the word ASSUMPTION for Mary compared to ASCENSION for Jesus. The ASCENSION of Jesus implies that He did this on His own (by His own power – He was God). The ASSUMPTION of Mary implies that it was done to her (not by her own power – She was human). There are several indirect scriptural passages that can be used in seeing how this happened. First of all, the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) tell us that two previous human beings were taken in to heaven, Enoch and Elijah. Genesis 5:24 tells us about Enoch and 22 Kings 2:11 tells us about Elijah. These set the precedent for Mary being taken up too. Also Psalm 132:8 describes God arising into his resting place with the ark. Mary is seen as the new Ark of the Covenant, in that she carried the very presence of God within her. In line with that, Revelation 11:19 shows the presence of the Ark in heaven right before it describes Mary as Queen of Heaven in Chapter 12.

One of the ways that we can see that Catholic Tradition is correct about the bodily assumption of Mary is by considering that there are two tombs, dating back to the earliest times that say that Mary had died there. Both were in places where she had lived, one in Ephesus and the other in Jerusalem. Both of these tombs are empty and tradition indicates that although Mary was placed there after her death, the tombs were found to be empty shortly afterwards. ALSO, the Church loves relics (including body pieces) and has relics from the Apostles and the early Saints, it does not have any body relics of Mary. There have been attempts to reconcile the two separate traditional places of Mary’s “dormition” but we simply do not know. I have been to both spots, the tomb in Jerusalem and the tomb in Ephesus, Turkey. Both are credible but I have to say that the location in Ephesus sent shivers up and down my spine. I felt the presence of Mary there and it was a very holy place.

Although the Assumption of Mary was believed and celebrated from the earliest times, it was not made a dogma of the Church until 1950. The Assumption of Mary tells us many things. First of all, it highlights the position of Mary as the Mother of Jesus. Secondly, it shows us what all Christians will be receiving at the end of time. The very fact that the unstained (Immaculate Conception of Mary) body of Mary is the “NEW -ARK OF THE COVENANT” demands that it could not be left on the earth to decay. For me, it also tells me that my mother (Mary given to us in John 19: 26-27) is alive in Her fullness. I personally believe that is why she appears to us in so many apparitions. Hail Mary, FULL OF GRACE………

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

1 – Do I consider the Blessed Virgin Mary an important part of God’s plan of salvation?

2 – Do I consider the Blessed Virgin Mary an important part of my life, especially in prayer?

3 – Do I consider Mary as my mother too, as Jesus said in John 19: 26-27?

4 – Have I tried to find out more about Mary (suggestion for Scott Hahn’s book, Hail Holy Queen)?

5 – Do I see Mary as the Ark of the Covenant?

6 – Do I pray the rosary often?

7 – Do I understand that someday I too, like Mary, will be body and soul together in Heaven?

8 – Do I appreciate the role of Tradition in my faith?

9 – Do I believe that I will be going to heaven after my time on earth is done?

10 – Am I doing what is necessary to get in to heaven?

The Second GLORIOUS Mystery – THE ASCENSION by Deacon Marty McIndoe

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This mystery recalls how Jesus, at the end of his earthly ministry, ascended in to heaven and sat at the right hand of God the Father. This occurred forty days after His resurrection. Both the gospel of Mark (16:19 ) and the Acts of the Apostles (1:8-9) mention this in the scriptures. The Church associates the Ascension with Jesus’ call for His disciples to pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. This happened nine days after the Ascension on the Feast of Pentecost. We, to this day, celebrate novenas (prayers for nine days) because of this. Also associated with His Ascension is the Great Commission from Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus tells us, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is the mission of the Church.

This second Glorious mystery is so important as it celebrates the very successful culmination of Jesus’ ministry here on earth AND His triumphal return to the Father in Heaven. It also celebrates the elevated human condition of all mankind as Jesus takes His glorified, human body in to Heaven. We, as His human children, will follow Him. Now, and forever, humanity is a permanent part of the Godhead. Think about that….. It is so amazing. God has lifted up humanity to share in His divinity. At mass, in the preparation of the cup, as he pours water in to the wine, the deacon (or if there is no deacon, the priest) quietly says, “By the mystery of this water in wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” Because of Jesus, we share in the Divinity and the Divinity shares in our humanity. That is quite mind-blowing when you really think about it. The Jesus that we follow and pray to is BOTH the Word (2nd person of the Trinity) and the glorified human born of the Virgin Mary, now and forevermore in Heaven.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus was preparing His disciples for His absence and said to them, in John 16: 7, “Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I depart. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, whereas if I go, I will send Him to you.“ As much as the apostles wanted Jesus to stay, He made it quite clear to them that it was better for Him to go. When He went to the Father, He, would send the Holy Spirit to be with them, and to all of us, forever. Jesus’s Ascension to the Father allowed us to receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ promise to be with us always, until the end of the world, is kept in our receiving THE power from heaven, the Holy Spirit.

The departure of Jesus in the Ascension led to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, just nine days later. This Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles and disciples of Jesus at the beginning of the Church and has continued to do so to the present day. Jesus, in John 16: 12 said, “I have much more to tell you, but you would not be able to bear it now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth”; but more about that next week in the third Glorious Mystery.

Questions to Ponder:

1 – Do I honor all humanity by recognizing it sharing in the divinity of God?

2 – Do I respect, and help others to respect human life from conception to natural death?

3 – Do I really believe in the power of prayer?

4 – When is the last time that I prayed a novena?

5 – Do I rely upon the power of God’s Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me.

6 – Do I try to live out the mission of the Church by trying to “make disciples” by teaching others the Christian Way through my words and the way I live my life?

7 – Do I encourage others to seek the Christian baptism?

8 – Do I read and study the scriptures on a regular basis?

9 – Do I pay attention to all the words of the mass?

10 – Do I feel the presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit and through the Church?