The Assumption and Coronation of Mary: Opening the Backdoor to Heaven

“Come and see- she is no longer here!” John cried out at the entrance of the tomb to all who were keeping watch.

Moments before, St. Thomas, St. Peter and St. John opened up the recently sealed tomb of Our Blessed Mother because St. Thomas wanted to look upon her face one last time.  All of the other Apostles had been there the day before when her Son came and took her soul home to heaven, but Thomas was off preaching in the Orient and didn’t get back in time.

 St. Peter and the rest of those gathered entered into the narrow grotto two by two to witness the miracle.  Then he carefully folded Mary’s mantle and robe and took them with him and had the tomb resealed.  As they stood outside singing hymns of praise, an angel appeared to them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you tarry here?  Your Queen and ours in now living body and soul in Heaven and reigning in it forever with Christ.  She has sent me to confirm you in this truth.  And she recommends to you again the Church, the conversion of souls, and the spread of the Gospel.  She wishes you now to return to your ministry.  From her throne she will watch over you and protect you.”

And so, it was confirmed that the body and soul of Mary were reunited in heaven.

The Passing of the Holy Virgin

The day before, Mary had summoned the Apostles, disciples, and Holy Women to her home.  She exchanged a touching farewell with all of the Apostles and thanked St. John for all of his kindness over the years.

Then she turned to everyone present and said, “Dearest children, I have loved you with that tender love and charity which was given to me by my divine Son, whom I have seen in you, His chosen friends.  My children, love the Church and love one another."  Turning reverently to St. Peter, she continued, “I commend my son John and all the rest to thee, Peter.”

Then added for everyone present, “I promise you that in Heaven I will ever look upon you as a mother.”  Everyone in the room was weeping as they anticipated the loss of their beloved mother.

Then St. Peter went into the next room to celebrate Mass, while Mary asked her grieving friends to pray with her and for her in silence.

Becoming so absorbed in contemplation, she saw her divine Son coming down from Heaven in glory, accompanied by many saints and angels.  She prostrated herself before Him and kissed His feet, making the last and most intense act of faith, love, and humility.

The Lord blessed her, saying, “My dearest Mother, the hour has come in which thou art to pass into the glory of My Father.  And since, by My power and as My Mother, I have caused thee to enter the world exempt from sin, therefore also death shall have no right to touch thee at thy exit from this world.  If thou wishes not to pass through it, come with Me now to partake of My glory, which thou hast merited."

Mary joyfully replied, “My Son and my Lord, Thou didst suffer death without being obliged to do so.  It is proper, therefore, that as I have tried to follow Thee in life, so I follow Thee also in death.”  And the Savior approved her last, generous sacrifice.

The Apostles recited the prayers for the dying, and the angels began to sing softly.  St. Peter entered the room and gave Mary her last Holy Communion, and then anointed her with the oils of Extreme Unction.

A marvelous light and perfumed fragrance filled the room.  Some of the Apostles perceived the presence of Our Lord, and many could hear the angels singing the verses of the Canticle, “Behold, my beloved speaketh to me, ‘Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one and come, the winter has passed…”

Mary whispered, “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”  And in that moment, Mary died of love.

Our Lord, conducting the pure soul of His Mother at His right hand, entered Heaven.  Presenting her before the throne of the Divinity, He said, “Eternal Father, it is right that to My Mother be given the reward of a Mother.  And since during all her life and in all her works she was as like to Me as it is possible for a creature to be, let her also be like to Me in glory and on the throne of Our Majesty.”

The decree was approved by the Father and the Holy Spirit, and Mary’s soul was raised to the right hand of her divine Son and placed beside the throne of the Holy Trinity.

Meanwhile, the Apostles gave her a beautiful funeral and buried her pure and spotless body inside the tomb.  But after the burial, Jesus went down into the tomb and carried her virginal body back up to Heaven, where her soul was reunited with it.  And from here, so intercedes for us, her children whom she loves so dearly.

The love that Jesus had for His Blessed Mother was so intense.  This is why St. Louis DeMontfort refers to Mary as the easiest way of gaining salvation.  How can He deny her requests for mercy when she holds so tender a spot in His Sacred Heart?

One of my favorite anecdotes about Mary is the humorous story where St. Peter asks Jesus how all of these people are getting into heaven!  They certainly aren’t on his list!  Jesus replies, “Ask My Mother.  She is sneaking them in through the back door.”

It is Mary’s intercessory role in our salvation that has earned her the title, “Mediatrix of all graces.”  Meaning that in God’s Divine plan, He chose Mary to be the one through whom all graces flow.  He certainly has the power to give out graces on His own, but in His Infinite Wisdom, this is the route that He chose. 

It certainly is an invaluable gift. When I was little and made a mistake, I would beg my mom not to tell my dad. My mom was always much more understanding and merciful.

My own kids do the same! They will easily come to me with their problems, but will do everything in their power to avoid telling Dad! Both of us love them the same, but running to Mom is the most natural thing to do.

In the economy of salvation, justice and mercy hang in the balance. We know our God is a God of mercy and love! We know the extremes of His love for us! We know that He desires mercy, not sacrifice, as He revealed to St. Faustina. Yet it still seems so much easier to run to Mary and ask her to beg her Son for mercy than for us to approach the Creator Himself. Who am I that I dare approach the throne of the Most High? But in His supreme goodness, He gave me access to someone that I can relate to and who can teach me how to love her Son.

"Am I not here who am your mother?" Our Lady of Guadalupe asked Juan Diego, as she appeared to him in the only apparition of Mary where she appears pregnant.

Jesus came into this world through the womb of Our Blessed Mother, the first living tabernacle. It then stands to reason that we should follow in His footsteps and place ourselves in Mary's proverbial womb. It is here that she will mold us into the image of her son.

Our Lady, Mother of the Universe, Mother of the Church, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Pray for us.

Until next time, your sister in Christ,

Leah

*The story of Mary's passing, assumption, and coronation was taken from the visions of Venerable Mary of Agreda.