Friday, August 15, 2014

St. John Damascene: The Son made all creation serve His Mother"

"IT was fitting that the body of her, who preserved her virginity unsullied in her motherhood, should be kept from corruption even after death. She who nursed her Creator as an infant at her breast, had a right to be in the divine tabernacles. The place of the bride whom the Father had espoused, was in the heavenly courts. It was fitting that she who saw her Son die on the cross, and received in her heart the sword of pain which she had not felt in childbirth, should gaze upon Him seated next to the Father. The Mother of God had a right to the possession of her Son, and as handmaid and Mother of God to the worship of all creation. The inheritance of the parents ever passes to the children. Now, as a wise man said, the sources of sacred waters are above. The Son made all creation serve His Mother."

~St. John Damascene: Homily 2 on the Assumption.

Assumption, by Filippino Lippi.
Fresco, 1489-91; Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome.