Devotional Prayers to Our Lady of the Assumption
Our Lady of the Assumption
Introduction
We celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Lady on August 15th. In Italy especially, but in many European countries, it is considered such an important feast day that it is a national holiday. The tradition is that those who are already on holiday at the seaside do not venture into the sea, out of respect. But those Italians who are not on holiday celebrate in the open, either by an extended family picnic or by a day at the seaside, and these day trippers are allowed to venture into the waves. In the UK, celebration of the Assumption is more discreet.
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The Theology of the Assumption
We celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Lady on August 15th. In Italy especially, but in many European countries, it is considered such an important feast day that it is a national holiday. The tradition is that those who are already on holiday at the seaside do not venture into the sea, out of respect. But those Italians who are not on holiday celebrate in the open, either by an extended family picnic or by a day at the seaside, and these day trippers are allowed to venture into the waves. In the UK, celebration of the Assumption is more discreet. Nonetheless, given its importance to so many of St Saviour’s parishioners, we have produced this booklet to support you in your personal love and devotions to Our Lady.
The Church and the Catechism say that Our Lady was assumed into heaven, rather than ascended. Assumed emphasises the special relationship Our Lady enjoys not only with Jesus, but also God the Father, and therefore the term assumed refers to the fact that God brought her into Heaven; she did not ascend by her own power, as Jesus did.
The Assumption of Mary is not found in Scripture. Her assumption is based on Sacred Tradition. In other words, it is something that has always and everywhere been believed by Catholics, through divine revelation.
The immaculate nature of Our Lady, laid down by Pope Pius IX in 1854 explained that she was preserved free from all guilt of original sin. Fr Michael O’Carroll, in his book, Theotokos: A Theological Encyclopaedia of the Blessed Virgin Mary, writes: “We have known for some time that there were widespread Transitus Stories that date from the sixth century that teach Mary’s glorious Assumption. It was the promulgation of the dogma of the Assumption by Pope Pius XII that rekindled interest in these stories of the end of Mary’s life”.
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Pope Paul VI emphasised this further in his treatise Lumen Gentium explaining that on the completion of her earthly sojourn, Our Lady was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory. There she was exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and the conqueror of sin and death (Lumen Gentium 59).
Devotional prayers to Our Lady of the Assumption often focus on honouring Her bodily ascension into heaven and seeking Her intercession for spiritual guidance and protection. These prayers frequently express faith in her role as Queen of Heaven and Earth and ask for her prayers for the faithful.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption
By Pope St Pius X
Immaculate virgin, mother of God and mother of humanity, we believe with all the fervour of our faith in your triumphal assumption both in body and in soul into heaven, where you are acclaimed as queen by all the choirs of angels and all the legions of saints. We unite with them to praise and bless the Lord who has exalted you above all other pure creatures and to offer you the tribute of our devotion and our love.
We know that your gaze, which on earth watched over the humble and suffering humanity of Jesus, in heaven is filled with the vision of that humanity glorified and with the vision of uncreated wisdom. And that the joy of your soul in the direct contemplation of the adorable Trinity moves your heart with overwhelming tenderness. We poor sinners whose body weighs down the flight of the soul, beg you to purify our hearts so that, while we remain below, we may learn to see God and God alone in the beauty of his creatures.
We trust that your merciful eyes will look upon our miseries and anguish, upon our struggles and our weaknesses; that your countenance may smile upon our joys and our victories. We call upon you as our mother, like St John before us, and take you as the guide, strength and consolation of our mortal life.
We are inspired by the certainty that your eyes are turned toward this world, racked by wars and persecutions, and the oppression of the just and the weak. From the shadows of this vale of tears, we seek in your heavenly assistance, tender mercy, comfort for our aching hearts, and help in the trials of Church and country.
We believe that in the glory where you reign, clothed with the sun and crowned with stars, you are a source of joy and gladness for all the angels and the saints. On this earth, where we walk as pilgrims, we are comforted by our faith. We look to you who we honour as our life, our sweetness and our hope, to draw us onward with the sweetness of your voice, so that one day, after our exile, you may show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
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Prayers on the Feast of the Assumption
Morning Prayer
Lord, come to my aid. Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever will be. Amen. Alleluia.
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. The holy Mother of God is exalted in glory, above the choirs of angels in the kingdom of heaven.
Holy Mary, of all women, you are the chosen one, who ancient prophets promised would bear God’s only Son. All generations prepared the way to thee, that in your womb the God-man might come to set us free. Holy Mary, you embody all God taught to every race that you are first and foremost in fullness of His grace. We praise the wondrous honour that you gave birth to Him who saved us from our sin.
Almighty and ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant, we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to share in her glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Midday Prayer: The Magnificat
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Evening Prayer
Let us lift up our hearts and give thanks to the Lord our God.
Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine; Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread; Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood; Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord; Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest; Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.
Let Us Pray
O God, who, looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary, raised her to this grace, that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory, grant through her prayers, that, saved by the mystery of your redemption, we may merit to be exalted by you on high. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Let us praise the Lord and give him thanks. Amen
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Anthem to the Glory of Our Lady
Praise to Mary, Heaven’s Gate, Guiding Star of Christians’ way, Mother of our Lord and King, Light and hope to souls astray.
When you heard the call of God choosing to fulfil his plan, By your perfect act of love hope was born in fallen man.
Blessed Virgin, help us live our faith so that we may see your son; Join our humble prayers to yours till life’s ceaseless war is won.
Help us to amend our ways and halt the devil’s strong attack, Walk with us the narrow path, please beg for us the grace we lack.
Mary, show your motherhood, bring your children’s prayers to Christ, Christ, your son, who ransomed man, who, for us, was sacrificed.
Virgin chosen, singly blest, ever faithful to God’s call, Guide us in this earthly life, guard us lest, deceived, we fall.
Mary, help us live our faith so that we may see your son; Join our humble prayers to yours, till life’s ceaseless war is won.
Praise the Father, praise the Son, praise the holy Paraclete; Offer all through Mary’s hands, let her make our prayers complete.
Let Us Pray
Great Mother of God, you are the ladder made by God the Father grounded in this world, reaching to the highest that we may climb up to the highest heavens, gift beyond others. Joy of the whole world, bright new star of heaven, uphold the stumbling, bring help to the fallen.
Praise to the highest Trinity forever who bestows on you a crown, O blest virgin, and who installs you as our queen, O Mary, pre-ordained mother. We turn to you for protection Holy Mother of God. Please listen to our prayers and help us in our needs. Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Hymn to the Glory of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven
Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria! Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria! Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn! Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
Our life, our sweetness here below, O Maria! Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria! Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn! Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
To thee do we cry, poor sons of Eve, O Maria! To thee we sigh, we mourn, we grieve, O Maria! Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn! Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, O Maria! Towards us thine eyes compassionate, O Maria! Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn! Salve, salve, salve, Regina! O Maria!
When this our exile is complete, O Maria! Show us thy Son, our Jesus sweet, O Maria! Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn! Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
O clement, gracious Mother sweet, O Maria! O virgin Mary we entreat, O Maria! Triumph all ye cherubim! Sing with us ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn! Salve, salve, salve, Regina!
Novena
Can be said before or after the Feast of the Assumption.
Each day for nine days recite: Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of men, we believe with all the fervour of our faith in your triumphal Assumption into Heaven, body and soul, where you are acclaimed as Queen of all the choirs of Angels, and the countless multitude of saints.
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We unite with them in thanking and praising God who has exalted you above all the heavenly hosts. In your mercy, dearest Mother, look down upon our miseries and our sorrows, upon our struggles and our weaknesses. Help us to remain pure in mind and body, to bear the crosses of life, and to live and die in close union with your Divine Son. Intercede with Him on our behalf, and obtain the graces and the favour we ask in this Novena.
(Please mention your petition)
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
(Then, please say your daily Rosary)