 Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc Et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. Hymn: Surge! Jam Terris Arise! the cold blasts from earth have receded, And in the fields are lovely flowers smiling, For thee O gracious Mother, bearer of Life. Arise, O Mary! Beautiful Lily blooming 'mid the brambles, Death's haughty author thou alone didst conquer, Plucking life-giving tree of fruits the fathers By sin did not taste. Ark of sweet wood not destined for ruin, Holding the manna, whence springs forth the power Summoning forth the bones arisen again From depths of the tomb.
Thou handmaid, faithful to the Ruler of hearts, Thy flesh cruel decay could never even touch, Thy soul of Spirit partaking without end Has winged to the stars. Leaning on thy beloved, arise, go heavenward! Accept the crown with stars for thee bedecked, List to the hymn thy children sing on this day, Calling thee blessed. Praise to the Triune Godhead everlasting, Who hath caused thee, O Virgin, to be crowned, And providently willed our queen thou shouldst be Also our Mother. Amen Mary, from her infancy, rested in the presence of the Most High, and passed her life in the smile of heaven. Like wisdom incarnate she took root among the chosen people, to the eye of man she appeared to walk on earth like other mortals, but God was ever her portion and her inheritance; and in the end her abode, for body as well as soul, was in the full assembly of the saints. It is this happy termination of Mary's life, her glorious assumption into heaven, that we celebrate today. This feast recalls several things--Mary's temporal death and burial, her incorruption in the grave, her restoration to life, her bodily assumption into heaven, and her triumphant coronation. The Death of Mary In the first place the feast of the Assumption commemorates the holy death of the Blessed Virgin, as is stated in the prayer of the feast. Mary died, (a) because it was the will of God that she might be in all things like her divine Son; (b) in order that the just might have an example and a model of a holy death. Mary's death was most happy, (a) because she was most detached from all things of earth; (b) because, far from feeling any remorse of conscience, her life had been spotless; (c) because she was certain of her salvation (St. Alphonsus). The Corporal Assumption of Mary The body of the Blessed Virgin did not suffer the corruption of the tomb, but was soon remitted with her soul, and assumed into heaven. Her going into heaven is called assumption rather than ascension, because it was the effect of a special privilege and grace of God. The reasons for belief in the Assumption are: (a) it is impossible to think that our Lord would have suffered the body of His Mother to see the corrpution of the grave; (b) since the delay in resurrection until the end of the world is a consequence of original sin, there was no reason why the body of the Immaculate Virgin should long be separated from her soul; (c) it was foretold in Scripture (Gen.iii. 15) that Mary should triumph over sin and its consequences, concupiscence and death; She triumphed over sin by her Immaculate Conception, over concupiscence by her virginal maternity, and over death by her Assumption; (d) a type of Mary's Assumptions is seen in the Ark of the Covenant, which was made of incorruptible wood, and which is spoken of by the Psalmist and St. John as existing in the heavenly temple (Ps. cxxxi.8; Apoc. xi.9; cf. xii. 1.) ; (e) this belief rests especially on a venerable tradition manifested in the practice and the teaching of both the Latin and the Greek Church. 
The Coronation of MaryWe read in the office of today's feast that the Holy Virgin is exalted above all the choirs of angels to the heavenly kingdom. The words of the Canticle of Canticles are also applied to her: "Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned" (Cant.iv. 8). Since the glory of the saints is proportioned to their merits and dignity, what must be the glory of Mary the Mother of God! The vision of St. John of the Woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and a crown of stars on her head (Apoc. xii. 1) is an apt description of Mary glorified in heaven. The holy death of Mary should teach us to prepare for our own death, and to say fervently every day those words of the Hail Mary, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." Let us always celebrate this feast with gladness and rejoicing, mindful that it is far above all the feasts of the saints and the greatest of our Lady's festivals. Let us pray to Mary crowned above that we may sanctify our lives as she sanctified hers, not so much by the performance of many and great deeds, as by fidelity in small things and to the ordinary duties of our state. Amen
A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mother of God. O Jesus Christ, Son of the divine bounty of God, be my aid. O Blessed Virgin, listen to me. O Mother of the Saviour of the world, assist me. O Mother of God, Lady of Heaven, sweetly beloved Queen and advocate of all human lineage, pray for me. Pray come, amiable and mild Lady of the Angels, Flower of the Patriarchs, Desire of Prophets, Treasure of the Apostles, Mother of Confessors, Ornament of Virgins, O Sweet and Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for me. O Lady, who is heard above the company of the Angels, preserve me from all evils, past, present and to come. Do no abandon me this day, nor at the dreadful hour when my soul shall be separated from my body. Petition for me, O sweet and Blessed Virgin Mary, at the hour of death and judgment, that my soul may come to Paradise, before your Son Jesus , and that I may be worthy to see His grace and every lasting glory with you. Amen O Gate of Paradise, Palace of Jesus Christ, Star of the Sea, Consolation of Mankind, beginning without end, take pity on me. O Sweet and Blessed Virgin Mary, daughter of God the Father, Mother of Jesus Christ, the Spouse of the holy Ghost: O Gate of Heaven, Door of the Firmament, Hope of Christians, Fountain of Pity, Safeguard of Peace, Glory of Virgins, who is honored above all Angels, intercede for me. O Mother of Mercy, Miracle of Virginity, Virgin above all Virgins, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity, beautiful above all creatures, O Lady of Meekness, Abbess of Mildness, Comforter of the Sorrowful, Consolation of the Afflicted, in you the Angels do rejoice. O Sweet Lady of Mercy, turn your merciful eyes to me, enlighten me with grace and hear my prayers. Into the protection of Almighty God and your holy hand, O Refuge of Sinners, I commend my soul and body. Amen __________________________ Prayer to ask Our Lady's Blessing
To bless me, O Daughter of the Eternal Father, and to obtain for me the grace never to offend my God by my thoughts. Bless me, O Mother of the Eternal Son, and pray that I may never offend my God by my words. Bless me, O Spouse of the Eternal Spirit, and by thy intercession obtain for me that I may never offend my God by my actions or omissions. Bless me, .O Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity! Pray for me that I may love and serve my God with my whole heart and soul, and that I may enjoy Him forever hereafter. O Mary, receive me as thy child for the sake of Jesus, who confided me to thy care in his agony on the cross. Amen." Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.
(Indulgence: 300 days)
__________________________ Invitation To The Blessed Virgin Mary To Be Present At Our Death
O Most holy Virgin Mary, in union with that most faithful love wherewith thy Son commended thee from his cross to the blessed John, I commend to thee my soul and my body, my thoughts, my words, and my actions, my life and my death, and more especially that one last moment of my life on which eternity hangs. And as thou didst invite thy Son to thine own blessed departure, so I invite thee now to mine; beseeching thee, by that love wherewith thou didst stand beneath the cross on which thy Son was dying, and by the bitter tears thou didst shed when thou sawest Him bow in death his sacred head, that thou be not absent from me then, but be there to succour me with a mother's tenderness; for without thee
I cannot die in peace.
Ejaculations most powerful and efficacious Refuse not, O most tender Mother, this my request, which I make to thee with all the earnestness and devotion of my heart; for if I die without thee, I most justly fear lest I perish everlastingly. For how shall I, fearful and frail as I am, stand then amidst the manifold and most grievous assaults of my enemies, unless thou be near to succour me? How shall I appear in the dread day of judgment, unless thou be my companion and my advocate? How give an account of my innumerable, my enormous, my most exceeding sins, unless thou plead my cause with thy Son, and obtain for me forgiveness of them all? Incline now thine ear to my supplication, O my Blessed Mother; and by the love of thy Son come unto me in my last moments, that by thy availing succour I may be rescued from that appalling peril, and with thee attain to everlasting gladness. Amen. when tempted by impure thoughts. "Mother most pure, pray for me." "Mother most chaste, pray for me." "Mother inviolate, pray for me." "Mother undented, pray for me." __________________________
Indulgence of 100 Days, thrice a day, for saying morning, noon, evening, Gloria Patri thrice, in thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for the graces and the privileges granted to most Holy Mary, especially in her glorious Assumption into Heaven.
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The faithful who devoutly offer some prayers in honor of the Nativity, Visitation, Expectation, Purification or Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at any season of the year, with the intention of continuing these prayers for nine days without interruption, are granted: An indulgence of 5 years once a day.
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord God most high, above all women upon the earth.
(An Indulgence of 300 days)
Most high Queen of the universe, Mary ever Virgin, make intercession for our peace and salvation, thou who didst bear Christ the Lord, the Saviour of all mankind.
(An Indulgence of 300 days)
Holy Mary, deliver us from the pains of hell. (An Indulgence of 300 days)
O Mary, Mother of grace and Mother of mercy, do thou protect us from our enemy, and receive us at the hour of our death.
(An Indulgence of 300 days)
My Mother, deliver me from mortal sin. Hail Mary three times
(An Indulgence of 300 days)
__________________________ The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us. God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us. Mother of Christ, pray for us. Mother of divine grace, pray for us. Mother most pure, pray for us. Mother most chaste, pray for us. Mother inviolate, pray for us. Mother undefiled, pray for us. Mother most amiable, pray for us. Mother most admirable, pray for us. Mother of good counsel, pray for us. Mother of our Creator, pray for us. Mother of our Savior, pray for us. Virgin most prudent, pray for us. Virgin most venerable, pray for us. Virgin most renowned, pray for us. Virgin most powerful, pray for us. Virgin most merciful, pray for us. Virgin most faithful, pray for us. Mirror of justice, pray for us. Seat of wisdom, pray for us. Cause of our joy, pray for us. Spiritual vessel, pray for us. Vessel of honor, pray for us. Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us. Mystical rose, pray for us. Tower of David, pray for us. Tower of ivory, pray for us. House of gold, pray for us. Ark of the covenant, pray for us. Gate of heaven, pray for us. Morning star, pray for us. Health of the sick, pray for us. Refuge of sinners, pray for us. Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us. Help of Christians, pray for us. Queen of Angels, pray for us. Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us. Queen of Prophets, pray for us. Queen of Apostles, pray for us. Queen of Martyrs, pray for us. Queen of Confessors, pray for us. Queen of Virgins, pray for us. Queen of all Saints, pray for us. Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us. Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us. Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us. Queen of Peace, pray for us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Chrsit our Lord. Amen. Additional Prayers for the Assumption Music: Ave Maris Stella--Monteverdi Vespers of 1620 from the Feast of the Assumption
Ave, Star of ocean,
Child divine who barest, Mother, ever Virgin, Heaven's portal fairest. Taking that sweet Ave Erst by Gabriel spoken, Eva's, name reversing, Be of peace the token. Break the sinners' fetters, Light to blind restoring, All our ills dispelling, Every boon imploring. Show thyself a Mother In thy supplication; He will hear who chose thee At His Incarnation. Maid all maids excelling, Passing meek and lowly, Win for sinners pardon, Make us chaste and holy. As we onward journey Aid our weak endeavor, Till we gaze on Jesus And rejoice forever. Father, Son, and Spirit, Three in One confessing, Give we equal glory Equal praise and blessing. Amen. †
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