Novena for the Feast of the Assumption
6 – 15 August
Day 2
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.”
(Lk 1: 46-48)
From antiquity, the celebration of either the feast of the Dormition of Mary or the Assumption of Mary testified to the belief that when the Virgin Mother of God passed from this earthly exile to heaven, what happened to her sacred body was, by the decree of divine Providence, in keeping with the dignity of the Mother of the Word Incarnate, and with the other privileges she had been accorded. For example, it is possible to cite an illustrious example from Pope Adrian I: “Venerable to us, O Lord, is the festivity of this day on which the holy Mother of God suffered temporal death, but still could not be kept down by the bonds of death, who has begotten your Son our Lord incarnate from herself.” (Cfr. Pope Pius XII Munificentissimus Deus)
Oh most venerable Virgin, who was always the fount of consolation for the Apostles, console us in our earthly journey until we too finally meet Our Lord and Saviour.
Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant Assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we offer you our devotion and love. We are confident that you watch over our daily efforts and needs, and we take comfort from the faith in the coming resurrection. We look to you, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
Hail Mary.