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.