Waiting with Mary [Part Six]

Dormition
  The Bible does not tell us of the last days of Mary of Nazareth.
The Eastern Church luminously refers to Mary's last moments as her falling asleep or "dormition".
  Tradition and legend has it that when Mary's days on earth had ended, surrounded by dsciples she fell into the sleep of death.
  When the apostle Thomas - who was absent at the time - returned, he begged to be taken to her tomb where she had been buried.
  The disciples, upon taking Thomas to the place, opened the tomb. When it was opened they found lilies.
  This tradition is captured in a poem by Sister M Angeline SSND titled "Memories of the Assumption".

    They bore her in a reverent group
    To a holy place
    Left her body in the earth
    Her body, full of grace

    But Thomas, tardy, slow of foot,
    Absent when she died
    Spent with sorrow, craved to see
    Her of the Crucified

    There was a swift intake of breath
    A hurried silent breath
    Startled, they opened the newmade tomb
    To find but lilies there.

Flying Birds
  Sister Dennis OP gave voice to her imagination in her Assumption poem entitled "Flying Birds" which was first published in
The Tablet of 19 August 1961.

    In a compact body, keeping perfect rhythm,
    Above the smoking factory chimney's crest,
    Regardless even of the beauty of the green fields,
    Waving trees, and joyous, shouting children,
    The birds circle the heavens in their morning flight.

    So, surely must the Angels have borne aloft
    Our Lady on that first Assumption Day!
 
    Intent on the beauty of Him on whom they desire to look,
    They ignore the things of earth and gaze on her
    Whom clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet,
    They bear to joyful reunion with her Son -
    With Him who is also her God.

Unique and Timeless
  What is known is that Mary of Nazareth has the honour and dignity of having been asked by God to conceive, nurture, protect and support His Son through His Life, Execution, Death and Resurrection.
  Surely a call both  unique and timeless.
Many have written in tribute to the choice of God the Father of Mary, the maid from Nazareth.

Encyclical Fulgens Corona
  Pope Pius XII rejoiced in the decision of the Father to grace humanity with the birth of His Son.
  In his encyclical Fulgens Corona published on 8 September 1953 he writes;
    "... any honour and veneration which we may give to our heavenly Mother undoubtedly redounds to the glory of her divine Son, not only because all graces and all gifts, even the highest, flow from Him as from their primary source, but also because 'the glory of children are their fathers' [Proverbs 17;6].

  Thus honour and veneration given to Mary of Nazareth returns immediately back upon the Source of Grace; God.

Dr Luky Whittle

Fulgens Corona
http://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_08091953_fulgens-corona.html

Redounds
Definition; comes back upon, rebounds

The Tomb of Mary in Muree
http://lumierecharitymarian.blogspot.ie/2012/04/tomb-of-mary-in-muree.html

Image by Rev Catherine
With thanks to w2.Vatican.va