Page:MaryHelpOfChristians.djvu/161

 death, to  preserve  that  same  body  from  corruption, and  to  glorify  it  in  heaven."

A council  held  in  Jerusalem  in  the  year  1672 declared: "It  is  beyond  all  doubt  that  the  Blessed Virgin  is  not  only  a  great  and  miraculous  sign  on earth,  because  she  bore  God  in  the  flesh  and  yet remained  a  virgin,  but  she  is  also  a  great  and miraculous  sign  in  heaven,  because  she  was  taken up  thither  with  soul  and  body.  For  although  her sinless  body  was  enclosed  in  the  tomb,  yet,  like the  body  of  Our  Lord,  it  arose  on  the  third  day and  was  carried  up  to  heaven."

Although the  doctrine  of  the  bodily  assumption of Mary  into  heaven  was  not  defined  by  the Church as  an  article  of  faith  in  the  strict  sense, yet the  learned  Pope  Benedict  XIV  remarks,  "It would  be  presumptuous  and  blameworthy  in  any one  to  call  into  doubt  or  to  question  this  beautiful and  consoling  belief  of  ages."

et us  rejoice  at  the  thought  of  the  glorious resurrection of  our  dear  Mother. Let us unite  ourselves  in  spirit  with  the  apostles  in heaven  and  with  Holy  Church  to  congratulate  her on this  extraordinary  privilege. But let  us  also rejoice at  the  thought  of  our  own  resurrection. True, it  shall  not  take  place  immediately  after death, but  it  is  therefore  not  the  less  certain,  and it depends  on  us  to  make  it  glorious  and  blessed.