 |
| Our Lady of Lebanon at Harissa |
And
the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail,
thou that art highly favored, the
Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women. [Luke 1:28]
Today is Eid
al 3adra, the Feast of the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary to Heaven.
The
acceptance of the Mother of all Mothers into the glory of Heaven is seen as the
symbol of the promise made by Jesus Christ to all enduring Christians that they
too will be received into paradise.
John
14:3 -- one of the scriptural bases for understanding the dogma of the
Assumption of Mary -- quotes Jesus as telling his disciples at the Last Supper,
"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive
you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also."
According
to Catholic theology, Mary is the pledge of the fulfillment of Christ's promise.
The Hail Mary is one of
the most powerful prayers
because it is believed Jesus cannot neglect the intercession of His mother’s
demands. The first miracle Jesus performed at the wedding at Cana is often
cited, as in John 2:1-11, when Mary told Jesus, “They have no more
wine.” He turned water into wine.
Eid al
3adra
today falls again, as it did last year, during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Both
Christians and Muslims will celebrate Our Lady – or “Maryam” in the Holy
Qur’an.
The mother
of Jesus has a distinguished and honored position among women in the Qur’an.
The 19th of
the Holy Book’s 114 chapters is titled “Maryam” – the only surah named
after a woman. (See Glorifying Virgin Mary in Ramadan --
August 15, 2011)
May our Heavenly Lady, bring peace,
solace and love to all.
And may the Mother of all Mothers shower
us, especially the needy, sick and infirm, with her Blessings:
Hail Mary, full
of grace,
the Lord is with
thee;
blessed art thou
among women,
and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother
of God,
pray for us
sinners,
now and at the
hour of our death.
Amen.
