Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-08-14
The Fea., of,h. A.spmn,iou.

Tomorrow the Catholic Church will cels-
pirate the Assumption OF the Vlrsin Mary, he
greatest OF all the festivals instituted in her
honor. IL Is a Evolutionary belief in the Greek
and Roman Catholic Churches, that The BODY
OF he Blessed Virgin was raised by God soon
alter her death, and assumed 10 glory in
heaven By singular privilege, which belief IS
further substaDusted by the fact that neither
Church has ever laid claim - any relic of her
Observance OF the festival itself, as this AS
sumption, whether of her soul ONLY
or both soul and body, is no part Of faitn,
PM II mas been generally stated that the
approaching Ecnmenical Council will make
u dogma of the Catholic Church
Ibe tradition IL that there were present at
the death OF the Virgin Mary, which occurred
IN the house Of John, on Mount Ziep, beside
tne apostles, Dionysius the Arcopag Cite, Timo-
theus and Herotheus and Of the women, Mary
salome, Mary Cleophas and faithful hand
Ealo, whose name was SavIa. The body OF
Mary remained on earth. and three among the
virgins prepared TO wash and clothe IL 10
shrouo. but such glory of light surrounded
neI ,oIm tnat though they touched 1t they
could not see u, and no human eye beheld
tnOse chaste and sacred limbs unclotned. The
apostles took her mp reverently and placed
her upsn bier, and John carrying The celes-
ilai palm. went before. Peter sung the Hath
fsaim-"In eIita Israel de Egypto, dumus Jacob
poPufo bdrbcro"-and the angels followed after
also singing. The Jews hearing the voices
ran together, and the high priest, being seized
with fury, laid his hands upon the bier, IN
tending to Oyerturn it on the earth; bat both
MS arms were suddenly dried mp so tha' he
could not move them, and he was overcome
win fear. ImpIoring Peter for help. Peter
said: "Have faith in Jesus CHRIST and his
mother, and thou shalt be healed" and II was
so. Then they went on and laid the yir.
gin In tomb in the valley of Jehoshaphat
On me third day Jesus said to the angels,
what honor shall i confer on her who was
my mother on earth and brought me forthr'
aDd they answered, "Lord, suffer not that BODY
which was thy temple and thy dwelling to see
corruption; but place her beside thee on thy
throne I'D heaven" And Jesus consented: and
the archangel Michael brought unto rhe Lord
the glorious soul OF the Virgin. And the Lord
SAID, ''Rise up, my dove, my undefied, for thou
shalt not remain in the darkness OF the grave,
nor shalt thou see corruption" Immediately
the soul OF Mary reJoiRed her body, and she
arose glorious from the tomb, and assembled
troops OF angels, blowing their silver trum-
pets. touching their golden lutes, singing
and rejoicing as they sung, aWho is she
tnat rIseth as the morning, fair as the
an srmy with banners" (Canticles vi 10Y
But one among the apostles was absent and
when he arrived he would not believe in the
resurrection of the Virgin; and this apostle
was the same Thomas who had formerly been
slow TO believe IL the resurrection of the Lord:
and he desired that the tomb should he op.nsd
before him. WheE il was opened. 1t was found
10 De fuli OF lilies and roses. Thomas, looking
up to heaven, beheld the Virgin bodily, in a
glory OF light, slowly mounting toward the
heaven; and she, for the Assurance OF his faith
flung down TO him her girdIe, Which, 1t Is said
rs TO this day preserved at the cathedral OF
Prato.
The festival of the Assumption is a holiday
OF obligation. Falling this year on Sunday it
will he observed with the soIemnity which
characterizes the great festivals of the Catholic
church, and the services tomorrow will be
unusually interesting.