Many years ago I visited a small florist shop in a City near to where I live. This shop is situated in the Cathedral quarter of the city down a steep cobbled hill. I loved the quaint buildings with their interesting facades and misshapen walls. This shop was my particular favorite because I love flowers and the smell every time you walked in was just heavenly. Six years ago by Gods providence as a family one of my daughters and I ended up owning this very florist shop. The details of how we came to own it are for another day but the reason I tell you this is because in researching for this article on the beautiful feast of the Assumption I came across a lovely legend that just spoke to my florists heart.
The assumption is one of the oldest feasts of Our Lady. It was celebrated only in Palestine until Emperor Constance extended it to all the Churches in the East. By the 7th Century it was being celebrated in Rome under the title The "Dormitio (falling asleep) of the Mother of God."
At the council of Chalcedon in 451 Emperor Marciano asked the Patriarch of Jerusalem to bring the relics of Mary to Constantinople to be enshrined there. The Patriarch explained that there were no relics to be had.
There is a lovely legend which connects all of this. When Mary felt that her end was drawing near, she sent her guardian angel to summon the Apostles, who were out traveling all over the world preaching the message of her son Jesus. When the apostles received the message they came in a great hurry to the bedside of Mary where upon they witnessed her happy death. All but the Apostle
Thomas were there to witness this momentous event, he arrived three days later to find the beloved Virgin Mary already buried. When he heard this he cried bitterly and pleaded with the Apostles to open the tomb once more so that he could glimpse her lovely features. Eventually the other Apostles yielded to his pleas and opened the tomb. The tomb was filled with flowers which gave off a heavenly scent. On the place where they had laid her body there was only the shroud left- the body had been Bourne home by the angels.
According to another legend, all the flowers and herbs lost their scent after Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the garden of Eden. On the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother,
however the flowers, were given back their scent and the herbs their power to heal.
So you can see why I love this feast day, it's just a perfect celebration for a florist. The Assumption of Mary fills us with Joy, and encourages us as we journey towards Heaven. Mary, as our Mother is always ready to give us the encouragement we need to help us reach the holiness we are called to, so that, one day like her we may enter into Heaven and unite ourselves completely to her beloved Son.
This day is not a day for mourning her loss, but a celebration of joy for the reunion of the mother and her beloved son. In many countries there are processions and people bring the fruits of the harvest to be blessed. Why not find out if there is a procession near you. If not gather together some families and consider doing one of your own, even if it is only around your own back garden. Maybe even plant a "Mary garden." Find a statue that is suitable to be outside plant lots of different flowers and herbs around her. Then you will be able to sit and enjoy the beauty of creation.
Make this day special. Why not pack a picnic or create a lovely meal in honour of Our Lady. Maybe the children can take a bunch of flowers to someone who is on their own or needs cheering up. However you choose to celebrate, have fun, be joyful and enjoy being Catholic!
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