The SAVIOR's Ascension
Marida Ignacio
THE ASCENSION
>A chapter from the book:
The Life of Mary as Seen by Mystics
Compiled by Raphael Brown
ISBN: 0-89555-436-4
Nihil Obstat: John A. Schulien, S.T.D.
Censor Librorium
Imprimatur: Moses E. Kiley
Archbishop of Milwaukee
[from Chap. 33. The Ascension]
The Blessed Virgin remained in seclusion in the Cenacle during the 40 days
between the Resurrection and the Ascension.
She spent these days in prayer and contemplation particularly praying for
St. Peter as the head of the Church and St. John as her adopted Son.
While Mary was meditating a few days before the Ascension, the Blessed
Trinity said to her: "Beloved, ascend higher!"
God the Father declared: "My Daughter, I entrust and consign to you the
Church founded by My only-begotten Son, the new Law of Grace which He has
established in the world and the people which He has redeemed."
Next was the Holy Spirit, who said: "My Spouse, I communicated to you My
Wisdom, and in your heart shall be deposited the mysteries and teachings
and all that the Incarnate Word has accomplished in the Word."
Then the Son announced to her: "My beloved Mother, I go to My Father and I
leave you in My stead. I charge you with the care of My Church. I commend
its children and My brethren to you as the Father has consigned them to Me."
Finally, the Holy Trinity made the declaration about the Blessed Virgin as:
"This is the Protectress of the Church and the Intercessor of the faithful.
In her are contained all the mysteries of Our Omnipotence for the salvation
of mankind. Whoever shall call upon her from his heart and obtain her
intercession, shall secure for himself eternal life. What she asks of Us
shall be granted."
The Blessed Virgin felt even more humility on top of this exaltation given
to her by the Holy Trinity. Thus, the Mother of God was given these gifts
in love and care for the Mystical Body of Jesus and its members until the
end of times.
Everyone knew that the Resurrected Jesus would soon leave them but only Mary
knew it would be the day after that night when a grand festival meal and
celebration was held in the Cenacle.
After the meal, Jesus said: "It is now time that as true and faithful
disciples you become teachers of the Faith to all men. I am about to ascend
to My Father. But I leave with you in My stead, My own Mother as your
Protectress, Consoler, and Advocate, and as your Mother whom you are to hear
and obey in all things. He who knows My Mother knows Me. He who hears her
hears Me. And who honors her honors Me.
"As a supremed head of the Church, you will have Peter, for I leave him as
My Vicar, and you shall obey him as the chief High Priest."
The Son of God left the Cenacle accompanied by His Mother, the 11 Apostles,
the Holy Women and about 100 disciples, for the the Mt. of Olives.
Reaching the top of the hill, the Blessed Virgin knelt before Jesus and
requested that He give them all His last blessing. Thus, the Savior raised
His right arm and gave His blessing upon mankind on all 4 compass-points of
the world.
Then He raised His hand and turned His gazed toward Heaven. When His
body shone luminously while His wounds were brightest, a multicolored circle
descended from the heavens and enveloped His body. Then His whole transfigured
Body rose higher while its luminousity increased and His white garments
shimmered. Everyone was awed while they gazed after Him until a cloud took
Him out of their sight.
Even when the light became normal in the surroundings, the crowd who just
witnessed such a spectacle stared at the sky until they heard a voice. It
came from two angels in the form of young men dressed in white, each with a
staff in his hand and they said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking
up to heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you to heaven, will
come in the same ways as you have seen Him going up to Heaven" and they both
vanished.
After remaining silent for a few moments, they finally come to realized that
the Savior had just returned to His Father in Heaven. Except for Mary, Peter
and John who remained serene and calm, everyone else had mixed feelings of
grief, broken-heartedness, silence and meditation and others still were
skeptical about the truth of what they just witnessed.
After a while the crowd dispersed with a change of heart and they comprehended
that although their Savior now occupied His throne at the right hand of His
Father, He would watch over them and be always with them as He promised.
The disciples assembled in the Cenacle again later that day. Everyone keenly
missed Jesus and they observed that the Blessed Virgin was perfectly calm and
confident. Thus they remembered what Jesus told them and that was to turn to
His Mother for protection in times of trouble. The disciples then came to
Mary for inspiration and encouragement.
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___ ___
(__ \/ ) His Peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marida
* )XxXx/
* | / "Human-kind: Where protection of valuable life starts and
* ) / takes off."
* \/ Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."
* http://www.netcom.com/~mdmiguel/simonpure.html
Tim Hart
Marida,
Thanks for posting that story "The Ascension". Please explain something
about the sources - who? what? where? when? Am I correct in assuming that
the author has taken fragments from different mystics and combined them
into this chapter?
Thanks,
Tim