who was a figure of Christ, introduced the ark of the Covenant into the temple of God amid the rejoicings and thanksgivings of the entire people, so did Christ introduce into heaven, Mary, body and soul; Mary, the ark of the New Covenant, amid the joyful acclaims of the whole heavenly court. Who can imagine the splendor of that scene — the myriads of the angels and the blessed whom eye hath not seen; the sweet strains of their celestial chant which ear hath not heard; and the glory of her divine Son which it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive! And who shall describe the emotions of Mary as, standing by her Son, glorified and immortal, she compares the misery of the past with the joy of the present; her former lowliness with her present exalted dignity! The wound made by the sword of sorrow that pierced her heart is now healed by the blessed balm of heavenly peace — and the obscurity that has hitherto enshrouded her is now dispelled by the voice of God proclaiming through heaven: " Come forth, ye daughters of Sion, come forth and see your Queen with the diadem wherewith her Son hath crowned her."
Brethren, if we wish one day to imitate the Virgin Mary in her glorious Assumption; if we desire to enter the kingdom of God, into the rest and the joy of Our Lord, to do homage to our crowned Queen, we must first learn to imitate the example of her life. Our faith must be strong and not carried hither and thither by every new doctrine; our hope must be firm, having for its object not the uncertainty of worldly things but the living God; and our charity must be
