January 29, 2025 - Toba 21, 1741 Departure of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary's departure. He wanted to go to Jerusalem and a cloud carried him there. On his way, he saw the pure body of St. Mary carried by the angels and ascended to heaven with it. One of the angels told him, Make haste and kiss the pure body of St. Mary, and he did. When St. Thomas arrived where the disciples were, they told him about St. Mary's departure and he said to them, You know how I conducted myself at the resurrection of the Lord Christ, and I will not believe unless I see her body. They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body but they did not find it, and everyone was perplexed and surprised. St. Thomas told them how he saw the holy body and the angels that were ascending with it. They heard the Holy Spirit saying to them, The Lord did not will to leave her body on earth. The Lord had promised his pure apostles to let them see her in the flesh once again. They were waiting for this promise to be fulfilled, until the 16th day of the month of Misra, when the promise was fulfilled and they saw her. The years of her life on earth were 60 years. She was 12 years old when she left the temple. She spent 34 years in Joseph's house, until the Ascension of the Lord, and 14 years with St. John the Evangelist, according to the commandment of the Lord which he told her at the cross, Behold, this is your son, and to St. John, Behold, this is your mother. May her intercession be for us all. Amen. |