The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-14

sumption VI tne virgin MARY into Heaven,
The greatest Of the festivals Instituted In her
honor, and the contamination of ali The
other great mysteries by which her life was
rendered most wonderful. II Is q tradi-
tionary pious belief In the Greek and Roman
Catholic Churches that the body OF the
blessed Virgin was raised by God soon after
her death, and assumed to glory by q siugu-
lar privilege before the general resurrection
OF the deed. This Is msntisnc by Andrew
Of Crete, In the East, In the seventh, and by
St. Gregory Of Tours, in the West, In the
sixth centuries. II is not matter OF faith
as yet, but II has been generally stated that
the ecumenical council would undoubtedly
make II dogma Of the Catholic Church.
This solemnity, In ancient martyrologies, Is |
promiscuously called the assumption, pas
sage, or repose Of the Virgin Mary. Whether |
this assumption was Of her soul only, or Of |
both soul and body, is no part Of faith. |
Since, however, neither the Greek nor
Roman Churches have ever laid claim 10
anything like a relic Of her body, the opin-
ion that she was assumed bodily Is the pious
belief Of both churches. Whether II Is so
or not does not reilly enter into the observ-
ance OF the festival itself. The object re-
mains the same, the Church keeping In view
that II Is the birthday OF her true greatness
and glory, the browning Of all the virtues Of
her whole life, In honoring her departure
from this world, and her translation into
tho kingdom of her Son. The spirit Of the
festival inculcatos the belief professed by
every Christian, "the resurrection OF the
body and life everlasting" Whether this
glorious prerogatiye Is the portion Of the
mother Of Jesus, as has already been stated,
Is not n matter Of faith; yet none would
deny shat she sharcs the happiness Of the
bcatidc vision. In commemGatng then
the departure OF the spirit TO God who gave
| hA holt 49, sl..ta M Ii.
Is conformable to the natural aspirations Of
the heart as well as to the actual observance
Of the faithful for centuries and centuries.
After Christ, as the triumphant conqueror
of death and hell, assembled Into heaven his
blessed mother remained at Jerusalem, per-
severing In prayer with the disciples, till,
with them, she had received the Holy Ghost.
st. John, the Evangelist, 10 whom Christ
recommended hor on his cross, took her I'M
der his protection. The prelates assembled
In the general council which was held at
Ephesus In 49,, mention as the highest pre-
rogative Of that city that II had received q
great lustre from 81. John and the mother
Of God, saying: SIN which John the theolo-
gian and the virgin mother Of God, the holy
Mary, conyersed, or rather, are honored with
churches held In special generation. II is
thought from this that she died at Ephesus,
but others think rather at Jerusalem, where
| In later ages mention Ia made of her sepul-
chre cut In a rock In Gethsemane. All agree
that she lived to very advanced age, i'm
proving daily In perfect charity, and In the
most heroic exercise Of all the other virtues.
She paid the common debt OF nature, none
amons the children Of Adam being exempt
from that rigorous law.
III MIS-. Jameson's "Legenis of the Ma
donna, as represented In the Fine Arts" 1t
Is stated that Of all the representations con-
secrated to the glory OF the Virgin none
have been more popular, more multiplied
through every form Of art, and more admir-
ably treated, than her death and apotheosis.
The latter Ia particular, under the title Of
1.-THE Assumption" became the visible ex-
preston of the universal faith-uamely the
exaltatlon and Qualification Of the Virgin in
the body as well 10 in the spirit. These
works OF art were based upon the old apoc-
ryphal legend OF her death and assumption.
The legend is as follows Mary dwelt In the
house of John, upon Mount Sion, looking
for the fulhllment of the promise OF deliv-
erance, and she spent her days In visiting
those places which had been hallowed by
the baptism, the sutferings, the burial, and
resurrection OF her divine Son, but more
particularly the tomb where he was laid.
But she did not this as seeking the living
among the dead, but for consolation and for
remembrance.
Aud on a certain day the heart of the
Virgin being filled with an indispensable
longing to behold her Son, melted away
within her, and she wept abundantly. And,
10! an angel appeared before her clothed in
light as with garment. And he saluted
her and said, "IIall, o Mary! blessed be him
who hath given salvation to Israel; | bring
thee here bunch Of palm gathered In para
disc; command that Il be carried before thy
bier In the day OF thy death; for In three days
thy soul shall leave thy body, and thou shalt
| enter int0 naradisp whera Inv Con 10
thy coming" Mary, answering, said, OF
have found grace in thy eyes, tell me first
what Is thy name; and grant that the
apostles, my brethren, may be united to me
before die, that In their presence may
give up my soul TO God. Also, pray thee,
that my soul, when delivered from my body,
may not be affrghted by any spirit OF dark.
ness, nor any evil angel be allowed to have
any power over me-" And the angel said,
why dost thou ask my namel My name is
, the Great and the Wonderful. And now doubt
not that all the apostles shall be reunited
to thee this day; for he who In former times
: transported the prophet Habakkuk from
Judea to Jerusalem by the hair of his head
can as easily bring hither the apostles; and
l fear thou not the evil spirit, for hast thou
not bruised his head aud destroyed his king
{ dom ~ And having said these words, the
angel departed into heaven, and the palm
branch which he had left behind him, shed
light from every leaf, and sparkled as the
stars OF the morning. Then Mary lighted
the lamps and prepared her bed, and waited
until the hour was come. And In the same
instant, John, who was preaching at Ephc-
sus, and Peter, who was preaching at Anti
och, and all the other apostles, who were
dispersed In different parts of the world,
were suddenly caught up as by miraculous
power and found themselves before the door
Of the habitption Of Mary. When Mary
, | than a11 Ial
blessed and thanked the Lord, and she
placed In the hands Of st. John the shining
, palm, and desired that he should bear i
before her at the time of her burisi. ",rhc,
r Mary, kneeling down, made. her PRAYER /,
the Lord her Son, and the others PRAYED will
her; then she laid herself down in her bee
= ana composed ierself for death, and Johr
{ Welt plltepIy:" About the third hour of the
hIshI, as feter stood at the head of the bed
: anu %ohn at the foot, and the other apostles
atNnd, mighty sound filled the house, and
edclcious perfume filled the chamber.
And Jesus, himself, appeared accompanied
by an innumerable company OF angels, pa
; triarcls, and prophets; all these surrounded
the bed OF the Virgin, singing hymns Of joy.
Jesus said To his Mother, Arise my be
loved, mine elect come with me from Leb
: anon, my espoused; receive the crown tina,
Is destined for thee" Mary, answering
oah, any ntart ih Teauyi IOr II was writer
OF me that should do thy will" The angel
o and blessed spirits who accompanied Jesus
= began 10 sing and rcjoice-thr soul of Mar,
. left her body aud was received Into the arm
T. of her son, aud together they assembled int,
heaven. The apostles watched her departure
:, saying, sob, most prudent Virgin, renem
o Der us when thon contest to glory" Tn
y angels who received her Into heaven sum
a these words Who il this that cOmeth nj
from the wilderness leaning upon her be
. loved she 10 falrer than all the daughter
Of jerusalem
The body Of Mary remained on earth, and
three among the virgins prepared 10 wasl
and clothe Il In a shroud, hut such glor,
OF light surrounded her form that though
they touched 1t they could not see IL, and nc
human eye beheld those chastc and Sacred
; limbs unclothed. The apostles took her III
l reycrcntly and placed her upon a bier, ant
John carrying the celestial palm, went be
fore. Peter sung the llith Psalm-"In exit
| Israel de Egypto, domus Jacob popul,
barbaro"-and the angels followed after ais,
! singing.
The jews hearing the voices ran together
and the high priest, being seized with fury
laid his hand upon the bier, intending L
oyerturn II on the earth; but both his arm