THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (part 6)

 

Great wonders and prodigies happened at the precious death of the Queen; for the sun was eclipsed, its light was hidden in sorrow for some hours.

 Many birds of different kinds gathered around the Cenacle, and by their sorrowful clamours and groans for a while caused the bystanders themselves to weep. 

All Jerusalem was in commotion, and many of the inhabitants collected in astonished crowds, confessing loudly the power of God and the greatness of his works. Others were astounded and as if beside themselves. The Apostles and disciples with others of the faithful broke forth in tears and sighs. Many sick persons came who all were cured. The souls in purgatory were released.

The souls in purgatory were released at the death of blessed virgin Mary


But the greatest miracle was that three persons, a man in Jerusalem and two women living in the immediate neighbourhood of the Cenacle, died in sin and impenitent in that same hour, subject to eternal damnation, when their cause came before the tribunal of Christ, his sweetest Mother interceded for them and they were restored to life. They so mended their conduct that afterwards they died in grace and were saved. This privilege was not extended to others that died on that day in the world, but was restricted to those three who happened to die in that hour in Jerusalem.

The Lord offered His mother the choice of entering into beatific vision either with or without passing through the portals of death. If She had preferred not to die, the Most High would have conceded this favour, because sin had no part in Her, and hence also not its punishment, which is death. She chose death freely in order to imitate and follow Christ, as also She did during his grievous passion. Since She had seen Her Son and true God die, She would not have satisfied the love for Him, if She had refused death, and She would have left a great gap in Her conformity to and Her imitation of the Lord the Godman, whereas He wished Her to bear a great likeness to Him in his most sacred humanity. As She would thereafter never be able to make up for such a defect, Her soul would not enjoy the plenitude of the delight of having died as did the Lord and God.

Hence Her choosing to die was so pleasing to Him, and Her prudent love therein obliged Him to such an extent, that in return He immediately conceded to Her a singular favour for the benefit of the children of the Church and conformable to Her wishes. It was this, that all those devoted to Her, who should call upon Her at the hour of their death, constituting Her as their Advocate in memory of Her happy Transition and of Her desiring to imitate Christ in death, shall be under Her special protection in that hour, shall have Her as a defence against the demons, as a help and protection, and shall be presented by Her before the tribunal of His mercy and there experience Her intercession. In consequence the Lord gave Her a new power and commission and He promised to confer great helps of his grace for a good death and for a purer life on all those who in veneration of this mystery of Her precious death, should invoke Her aid.