Feast of the Assumption
At the 7 o’clock hour in the evening of the Feast of the Assumption, Sisters, Residents, and volunteers filled Lanagan Hall to begin the saying of the rosary. The statue of our Lady was flanked by candlelight and flowers to honor her special Feast Day. With Residents holding battery-operated candles, Mother Maria Christine hailed the magnificence of this special Feast Day in honor of Mary. After explaining the route our Marian procession would take, she invited everyone to join in the rosary led by Sister Rose Marie.
The Glorious Mysteries from the “Meditations on the Rosary for Seniors” was chosen for reflection. Upon completion of each decade, the group was invited to process quietly as music accompanied the walk to the next station.
After the saying of the first decade contemplating “The Resurrection,” we proceeded to the second station which was located outside on the adjacent patio. We stopped in front of the statue of St. Joseph for the saying of the second decade, “The Ascension into Heaven” where Jesus would join St. Joseph.
As the cool breezes of the evening washed across us the procession moved quietly and stood before the statue of Jeanne Jugan. As we pondered the “Descent of the Holy Spirit”, we were reminded of her spirit of love and devotion to our Lady and to us who have benefited most by her commitment to her sacred calling. “The Hail Mary will take us to heaven,” she spoke to our hearts.
On to the fourth station which took us to stand before the Sacred Heart statue which greets the public as they enter the property of our St. Augustine home. As we gazed upon the face of Jesus and meditated on the Assumption of Blessed Mother whose Feast Day we were honoring, how blessed the moment when mother and son met again in the fullness of heaven.
At the feet of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, our fifth and final station, the procession ended in the appreciation that the Mother of Jesus and our mother was crowned forever queen of heaven and longs for us to come to Jesus even as she did.
Mother Maria Christine thanked all for coming and acknowledged the part that Claire Thompson, Sister Marie Cecilia and all who were involved played in making this a most sacred and memorable evening honoring the Assumption of Blessed Mother Mary.
After the singing of “Hail Holy Queen” we departed filled with renewed zeal to imitate our Blessed Mother.
Written by Resident Dori Harrter
Feast of the Assumption