Homily for Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Cistercian Order, by Fr. Gerard Jonas

Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; Psalm 44; 1Corinthians 15:20-26; Luke 1:39-56

Scriptures Three Times Fulfilled

This Solemn Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary points to how the Sacred Scriptures are fulfilled in three ways. a) Mary ushers in the fulfillment of the promised Messiah; b); the Salvation wrought by Christ’s Paschal Passion, Death, and Resurrection is fulfilled in Mary; and c) Mary, as the exemplary prototype and advocate for the fulfillment of Christ’s redemption for humanity.

Mary’s Assumption into Heaven is the fourth Marian Dogma of the Catholic Church, along with the Motherhood of Mary, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, and the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Mary, as the new Eve ushers in the new Adam as the mother of the Incarnate Divine Son, Jesus. She sets in motion the fulfillment of salvation promised at the Great Fall of the First Adam and First Eve that breached into humanity, the challenge of the Evil one. The gates of paradise were closed to us through the First Eve’s transgression, but through the humble obedience of the Second Eve, Mary, heaven’s gates now lie open.

Mary is the foremost beneficiary of Christ’s salvation. In the order of grace, Mary was the first human being accorded the merits of Christ’s redemption. Thus, at her Immaculate Conception, she was preserved from the stain of original sin.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to the belief in Mary’s share in his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him body and soul in heaven. Our Savior Jesus Christ who took Mary’s womb as His first temple on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit, now upon her death, takes her before his holy throne and crowned her Queen of heaven and earth.

Assumption means, “To be taken up” body and soul to heaven. It is not Ascension, like with Jesus, done by His own power, but Assumption done by the power of God. It is something God did for her, not something she did for herself. It is a gift of God as a result of Christ’s redemptive power applied to the Blessed Virgin Mary. the dogma says, “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection.” The Assumption was God’s way of finishing the work he started at Mary’s Immaculate Conception, by redeeming her body from the effects of sin as well, that is, corruption and decay.

Mary’s role is well described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

“By her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to his Son’s redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity. Thus, she is a ‘pre-eminent and…wholly unique member of the Church’; indeed, she is the ‘exemplary realization’ (Latin:typus) of the Church.” (Section 967).

The Sacred Scriptures do not give an account of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and evil. Many see this woman as God’s people. Since Mary best embodies the people of both the Old and the New Testament, her Assumption can be seen as an exemplification of the woman’s victory.

Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul speaks of Christ’s resurrection as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Being “assumed body and soul into heaven” also tells that Mary, because of the dignity of her motherhood and her own personal submission to God’s will at every stage of her life, takes precedence over everyone else in the sharing of God’s glory. She is the first one to reach the eternal destiny of all of us who die united with Christ her Son.

[In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) with new meaning. In her glory, Mary proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God her savior. God has done marvels to her and she leads others to recognize God’s holiness. She is the lowly handmaid who deeply reverenced her God and has been raised to the heights. From her position of strength, she helps the lowly and the poor to find justice on earth, and she challenges the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as the source of happiness.]

Mary, at her Assumption, is the hope and joy of all the faithful for she is not only the prototypal exemplary but also advocates for humanity’s redemption. And we, Cistercians, witness to this truth. At each of the 7 Hours of the Divine Office, we commend ourselves to the love and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And we conclude our day with the lovely “Salve Regina” sung in her honor.

Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, is very dear to us Cistercians. Under this title of Mary, she is our Patroness.

In his First Sermon for the Assumption, St Bernard of Clairvaux said: “Our great Queen has gone before us and has been so gloriously received that we, her servants, may walk with confidence after Our Lady.”

Truly, the Mother of God rightly means a great deal to us Cistercians. Even our Constitutions end with this beautiful invocation to her intercession: “May God grant that by the breath of the Paraclete, the monks, and nuns may observe these Constitutions in a spirit of fraternal charity and fidelity to the Church, and so joyfully make their way to the fullness of love, with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Citeaux.”