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1. The Resurrection
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. An angel
appeared and said, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking
Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for He has been raised just
as He said.” (Mt
28:1-10) |
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The body of
Jesus is placed in the tomb on the evening of Good Friday.
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His soul
descends into the realm of the dead to announce to the Just the
tidings of their redemption.
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Fearing the
body of Jesus will be taken, the chief priests place guards at the
tomb.
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On the third
day Jesus rises from the dead, glorious and immortal.
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The earth
quakes as the angel rolls back the stone, the guards flee in terror.
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The holy
women coming to annoint the body of Jesus are amazed and frightened
to find the tomb open.
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An angel
calms their fears: “He is not here. He has risen as He said.”
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Jesus appears
to Mary Magdalen and Peter and two disciples on the way to Emmaus.
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That evening
He appears to the apostles behind locked doors: “Peace be unto you
… do not be afraid.”
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Jesus
breathes on them and gives them the power to forgive sin.
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2. The Ascension of Our Lord
As Jesus blessed them He parted from them and was taken up to
heaven. (Lk
24:44-53) |
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Jesus remains
on earth forty days after His Resurrection to prove He has truly
risen from the dead.
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He
commissions the apostles to preach the gospel to every creature, and
promises to be with them forever.
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He will not
leave them orphans, but will send the Holy Spirit to enlighten and
strengthen them.
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Jesus
proceeds to Mt. Olivet accompanied by His Mother and the apostles
and disciples.
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Extending His
pierced hands over all in a last blessing, He ascends into heaven.
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As He ascends
a cloud takes Him from their sight.
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Jesus ascends
to take His place at the right hand of the Father.
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What
jubilation there must be amid the angels of heaven at the triumphant
entry of Jesus.
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The wounds in
His glorified body are an endless plea before the Father on our
behalf.
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The disciples
leave Mt. Olivet and “return to Jerusalem with great joy.”
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3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be
with you. Receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn
14:15-21) |
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The apostles
are gathered in the upper room where Jesus had held the Last Supper.
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They are
persevering in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus.
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A sound comes
from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it fills the whole
house.
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The Holy
Spirit descends on each of them in the form of tongues of fire.
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Filled with
the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are enlightened and strengthened
to spread the gospel.
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Having lost
all fear of the Jewish leaders, the apostles boldly preach Christ
crucified.
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The
multitudes are confounded because every man hears them speak in his
own tongue.
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The Holy
Spirit comes upon the Infant Church never to leave it.
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That first
day Peter goes forth to preach and baptizes three thousand.
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The feast of
Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, for on that day it begins
to grow.
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4. The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven
“Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of
original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished,
was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory.” (from
Munificentissimus Deus (1950):DS 3903) |
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After the
apostles have dispersed, the Blessed Mother goes to live with John,
the beloved disciple.
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Mary lives
many years on earth after the death of Christ.
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She is a
source of comfort, consolation and strength to the apostles.
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As she had
nourished the infant Jesus, so she nourishes spiritually the infant
Church.
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Mary dies,
not of bodily infirmity, but is wholly ravished in a rapture of
divine love.
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Her body as
well as her soul is taken up into heaven.
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After her
burial the apostles go to the tomb and find only fragrant lilies.
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Jesus does
not permit the sinless body of His Mother to decay in the grave.
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Corruption of
the body is an effect of original sin from which Mary is totally
exempted.
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The bodies of
all mankind, at the last judgment, will be brought back and united
again to the soul.
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5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of
the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on
behalf of the members of Christ.” (from the
Solemn Profession of Faith: Credo of the People of God)
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As Mary
enters heaven, the entire court of heaven greets with joy this
masterpiece of God’s creation.
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Mary is
crowned by her divine Son as Queen of heaven and earth.
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More than we
can ever know the Hearts of Jesus and Mary overflow with joy at this
reunion.
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Only in
heaven will we know the great majesty of that coronation, and the
joy it gave to the angels and saints.
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Even the
angels, who by nature are greater than humans, hail Mary as their
Queen.
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Mary shares
so fully in the glory of Christ because she shared so fully in his
suffering.
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Only in
heaven will we see how central is the role of Mary in the divine
plan of redemption.
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The angels
and saints longed for the coming of her whose heel crushes the head
of the serpent.
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Mary pleads
our cause as a most powerful Queen and a most merciful and loving
Mother.
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A great sign
appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her
feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
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