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| Assumption of the Virgin, by Andrea Del Sarto. Oil on wood, 1526-29; Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence. |
“THE grave and death could not retain the Mother of God, who is unceasing in prayers, our stalwart hope by her protection; for as she is the Mother of Life, He Who dwelt in the ever Virgin hath taken her away unto life.”
—Byzantine Menaea, Kontakion for the Feast. (ca. 6th cent.)
“MARY hath been taken to heaven; the angels rejoice; they praise and bless the Lord.”
—Roman Breviary, Antiphon at Lauds for the Feast. (Liber Respons., 7th cent.)
“AS the most glorious Mother of Christ, our Savior and God and the Giver of life and immortality, has been endowed with life by Him, she has received an eternal incorruptibility of the body together with Him Who has raised her up from the tomb and has taken her up to Himself in a way known only to Him.”
—Homily on the Assumption, 14. (Attr. to St. Modestus of Jerusalem; 7th cent.)
“IT was fitting that she, who had kept her virginity intact in childbirth, should keep her own body free from all corruptibility even after death. It was fitting that she, who had carried the Creator as a Child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles. It was fitting that the spouse, whom the Father had taken to Himself, should live in the divine mansions. It was fitting that she, who has seen her Son upon the Cross and who had thereby received into her heart the sword of sorrow which she had escaped in the act of giving birth to Him, should look upon Him as He sits at the right hand of the Father. It was fitting that God’s Mother should possess what belongs to her Son, and that she should be honored by every creature as the Mother and as the Handmaid of God.”
—St John of Damascus: Homily 2 on the Assumption, 14. (8th cent.)