Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 14th August

Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 14th August 2022

 Today we are keeping the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, almost on the right day, but not quite. For centuries this feast of Our Lady, her most important one, has been known as Easter in Summer, not only because in many places it is the tradition to make ones Easter duty today, but because Mary was the first human being to benefit from and participate fully in the mystery of her Son’s sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This is what is so important about today’s feast. We celebrate the entry of the first human being, following on from Jesus, to enter the glory of heaven. There are three moments to this event, rather like the movements of a symphony: the falling asleep of the Virgin, her Assumption or going up into heaven and her crowning as Queen of heaven by her Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. At Belmont you can see these three moments in the Lady Chapel, beneath the mensa, on the reredos and in the stained-glass window above. Where Mary has led the way, we can follow through the Father’s loving mercy, the Son’s saving sacrifice and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

 The Gospel reading chosen for today’s feast is that of the Visitation in Luke, (Lk 1: 39-56), as it concludes with the song of Mary, the Magnificat.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

and my spirit exults in God my saviour;

because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,

for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name,

and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

He has shown the power of his arm,

he has routed the proud of heart.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy

– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –

of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.”

This wonderful song of praise and thanksgiving can enhance our understanding of any aspect of Our Lady’s life and mission in the History of Salvation. In every circumstance, Mary proclaims God’s greatness and love and his desire to save and give new life. Because of her humility, the Church in every generation proclaims her blest, and today blessed in her assumption into heaven and coronation as Queen of all creation. This is the greatest act of love and mercy that God has done for Mary, his lowly handmaid and it is an act of prophetic love and mercy, for in Mary, God opens up the way for all his children. What Mary is today, we will be at the end of time, when God raises up our mortal bodies to be like hers in glory. This demands an enormous act of faith on our part. Mary shows from the very first moment of the Annunciation what deep faith a human being can be capable of. Through her intercession, we, too, pray for that quality of faith.