Ponder: Who is your perfect female role model? Trust me, there is truly something about Mary!
Pause for a few moments of silence, recite the prayers as indicated in chart here if you wish to prepare for today’s mystery. You might offer a prayer request for each decade or a Hail Mary for a specific person.
Pray: The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
At the end of her life, Mary is taken body and soul into Heaven and is united with her Divine Son. Fruit of the Mystery: Devotion to Mary
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.* Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days. Revelation 12:1-6
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who assumed you into Heaven. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Pray for us Mary, gate of Heaven, That we may contemplate Christ with you and in you.
Amen
Reflect: Mary is a warrior. What a woman! After having her as my saint buddy last year, I think she is an amazing role model and I aspire to be half the woman she was! Mary’s radical humility is an encyclopedia of lessons about the inner life. Imagine how rich her inner life must have been. Imagine what it was like for the first Christians to seek her counsel and guidance. Then at the end of her life, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven which was her reward for a life lived entirely for God. She is my spiritual mother and gave everything to God. Is there anything keeping you from just giving everything to God? What would it look like if you gave that to Him? Your worry, self reliance, your trust, just living in perfect alignment and obedience to God’s will, your own personal fiat? Like Adam, Eve was banished from the Garden of Eden because of disobedience. Like Jesus, Mary was welcomed into Heaven because of obedience. She wiped the slate clean for you and me. She always points the way to her Son and sits at His side in Heaven, her prayers are powerful to aid us. I’m so grateful to have her example and direction guiding me where I need to be.
Act: Today I will think about the female role models in my life and see is there is room for Mary.
Inspire with your life. Words convince the mind, but actions change the heart.
Smitten With Goodness 