THOUGHTS OF ST. BERNARD ON THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY
On this day the glorified Virgin entered heaven and crowned by her
presence the holy pleasures of its inhabitants. But what mind can
conceive the glory with which the arrival of the Queen of the world
was celebrated by the brilliant heavenly hosts, their advance to
greet her, their chanting as they led her to the magnificent throne?
Who can fancy the tender gaze, the loving countenance, the divine
caresses with which she was received by her Son and placed over all
created beings, honored as became such a mother, with the glory that
became such a Son? What lips can describe the assumption of Mary? As
upon earth she, before all others, received special grace, so in
heaven she, before all others, receives special glory. If eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to
know the delights that God has prepared for those that love Him, who
shall say what is prepared for her who bore Him and loved Him more
than all! O blessed art thou, Mary! Most blessed wert thou, when thou
didst receive the Saviour; most blessed art thou, when the Saviour
receives thee!

ST. BERNARD'S PRAYER TO MARY
We accompany thee, on this day, with our most ardent wishes to thy
Son, O glorious Virgin, Queen of heaven! and follow thee from afar, O
happy Virgin! Give thy mildness to the world, give of the grace thou
hast found with God. Obtain by thy blessed intercession, grace for
the guilty, recovery for the sick, strength for the faint-hearted,
aid for those in peril! Dispense to us thy servants, who on this
glorious festival-day invoke thy sweetest name, O gentlest Queen, the
grace of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord and God, to whom be glory
forever. Amen.