Scriptural Meditations of the Rosary
More About the Assumption:
Marian theologians believe that Mary's body and soul was assumed (by the power of God) into heaven upon the completion of her life on earth. Being the first tabernacle of Christ, the mother of the God-man, she was given the graces she needed to honor him in purity and holiness and humility as that tabernacle. Thus she was purged of Original sin (inherited from the fall of Adam and Eve), prior to her conception. This is the teaching of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception was a pre-redemptive act of God in honor of the son of Man, the new Adam, Jesus. She was, therefore, not subject to the punishments of Adam and Eve -including death and decay. Her death is thought to be like "falling asleep" and her assumption similar to Jesus -being taken up into the clouds.
More About the Coronation:
Since Christ made Mary our mother as well as his own (Jn 19:26-7), and since she is God's mother (Christ is both fully human and fully divine), and since we honor Christ as: Lord, Master, King, and Prince of Peace; Mary is thought of as the "Queen mum." It is not that she is divine herself. It is only that we recognize her special place in the salvation of humanity. She brought forth the redeemer, she was there at the foot of the cross, and she was there when the church was born at Pentecost. Her advice to others was: "Do whatever he tells you (Jn2)." And Christ responded to her even when his "time had yet not come," because she was his mother, the Woman, the new Eve. We too rely on her loving intercession and the gentle comfort of having a mother look after us from above.
