Catholic Spiritual Living Journal

At her Assumption, Mary was ``taken up to Life'' - body and soul. She is already a part of ``the first fruits'' (1 Cor 15:20) of our Savior's redemptive Death and Resurrection. The Son took his human life from her; in return he gave her the fullness of communion in Divine Life. She is the only other being in whom the mystery has already been completely accomplished. In Mary the final victory of Life over death is already a reality. And, as the Second Vatican Council reaches: ``In the most holy Virgin the Church has already reached the perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle'' (Lumen Gentium, 65). In and through the Church we too have hope of an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us''. (cf. I Pt 1:4).

You are blessed, O Mary! Mother of the Eternal Son born of your virgin womb, you are full of grace (cf. Lk 1:28). You have received the abundance of Life (cf. Jn 10:10) as no one else among the descendants of Adam and Eve. As the most faithful ``bearer of the Word'' (cf. Lk 11:28), you not only treasured and pondered this mystery in your heart (cf. Lk 2:19, 51), but you observed it in your body and nourished it by the self-giving love with which you surrounded Jesus throughout his earthly life. As Mother of the Church, you guide us still from your place in heaven and intercede for us. You lead us to Christ, ``the Way, and the Truth. and the Life'' (Jn 14:6), and help us to increase in holiness by conquering sin (cf. Lumen Gentium, 65).

The Liturgy presents you, Mary, as the Woman clothed with the sun (cf. Rev 12:1). But you are even more splendidly clothed with that Divine Light which can become the Life of all those created in the image and likeness of God himself: ``this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it'' (Jn 1:4-5).

O woman clothed with the sun, the youth of the world greet you with so much love; they come to you with all the courage of their young hearts . Denver has helped them to become more conscious of the Life which your Divine Son has brought.

We are all witnesses of this.

These young people now know that Life is more powerful than the forces of death; they know that the Truth is more powerful than darkness; that Love is stronger than death (cf. Song 6:8).

Your spirit rejoices, O Mary,

and our spins rejoices with you

because the Mighty One has done great things for you and for us,

- for all these young people gathered here in Denver -

and holy is his name!

His mercy is from age to age.

We rejoice, Mary,

we rejoice with you, Virgin assumed into heaven.

The Lord has done great things for you!

The Lord has done great things for us!

( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/jp2/denver17.html )