August 14

The Last Moments Of The Blessed Virgin

Preparation. - That we may properly celebrate the eve of the Assumption and prepare ourselves for this feast, we shall consider, first, Mary’s dispositions at her last hour, and secondly, her death, caused by the power of her divine love. We shall then resolve to give up every earthly attachment, every kind of imperfection, so as to render our death precious in the sight of God, like that of the Virgin-Mother and of the saints, who imitated her. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 115. 5).

I. Mary In Her Last Moments

How bitter are the regrets of the dying who are attached to perishable goods, because they have to leave them, but especially on account of the sins they have committed! But there was nothing to worry at her death the Immaculate Virgin, the Queen of holiness. She had nothing to fear from the judgements of God, for she had never displeased her Creator, and saw herself surrounded, as it were, but he virtues she had so well practiced. Her lively faith, her unwavering confidence, her most devoted patience and profound humility, her ardent charity, her modest and unalterable meekness, in a word, all the perfections of her privileged soul filled her with joy, by giving her a glimpse of the reward that awaited her.

Hence how ardently this Virgin, wholly detached from the earth, sighed after heaven, where her beloved Son reigned. She would say: “Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest” (Ps. 54. 7) with the Supreme and eternal Good. “When shall I come, and appear before the face of my God? As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God” (Ps. 41. 3, 2). Such were the yearnings of Mary’s heart at the end of her so well filled career.

Let us strive to imitate this Virgin so pure and so detached, by avoiding every deliberate fault, and living here below as a traveller hastening without delay to his journey’s end.

Let us examine whether we prefer piety to science, the happiness of obeying to the honor of commanding, purity of heart to every sensual gratification. Let us every night imagine ourselves on our death-bed, and ask ourselves what will cause us the greatest regret at the end of our life. Can we think on the supreme tribunal without dreading the Lord’s reproaches for our sloth at prayer, our negligence in our employments, our carelessness and indifference in profiting by the numerous means of salvation constantly offered us?

O Jesus, through the merits of the ever most faithful Virgin, give me the courage to do violence to myself, in order punctually to perform all my duties, so that I may deserve the reward promised to watchful servants. Enable me to deny myself, whenever grace requires of me the sacrifice of some word, of a look, of some impatience, of an inclination opposed to Thy good pleasure.

II. Mary’s Last Breath

According to Sts. Andrew of Crete and John Damascene, the apostles and some of the disciples, dispersed in various countries, met miraculously at Jerusalem in the chamber where the spotless Virgin was dying. Who will describe the loving kindness of this most loving Mother, when she bid them adieu. All present could not refrain from bursting into tears.

But the angels, longing to assist at their Queen’s happy departure out of this world, came down from the highest heavens. Soon Jesus Himself, drawn by His Mother’s ardent desires, appears to her surrounded by a brilliant retinue of the Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim. At the same moment, the grieving apostles heard a ravishing melody; and what delights then inundated the blessed soul of the most faithful Virgin, especially at the moment when, according to St. John Damascene, Jesus gave Himself to her under the Sacramental species, as the Viaticum of her passage from exile to her country, from time to eternity!

This was the signal for our Mother’s departure; her beautiful soul, like the white smoke of the purest incense, softly detached itself from her virginal body, and took flight in the midst of the angelic choirs “leaning on her Beloved.” Let us follow her entering heaven and forever most intimately united with God. - Then let us return to her funeral couch, where we shall find the apostles grieving, yet consoled by the odor of the heavenly perfumes exhaled from the mortal remains of their august Sovereign. Let us admire with them how those die who have lived solely for God.

O holy Virgin, it was meet that thy death should have been the sweetest of all, for on Calvary thou hadst endured the most cruel of martyrdoms. Wherefore we shall be consoled in our last moments in proportion to the afflictions, trials and sacrifices we have generously embraced during the course of our life. In the meantime, O powerful Queen, deign to obtain for me, first, daily victory over all my perverse inclinations and propensities, so that there remains nothing needing to be purified in me after this sad exile; and secondly, often recall to me the following maxim: “The happiness of dying without regret is well worth the hardships of a life devoid of pleasure,” of consolation, of enjoyment, so as to belong more unreservedly to God. Blessed Virgin, deign to assist me during life, and especially at the hour of my death. Come thyself during my last days to prepare me for the sacraments of the dying, and then receive my soul leaving this world, in order to present it to Thy divine Son.