Welcome to our Rosary meditation.

Earlier this morning we were at the home of Mary,

which is called the dormition,

dormition for the falling asleep or her passing away before the apostles carried her to the

tomb and then witnessed her assumption into heaven. And now we are at the birthplace of Mary.

Next to the pool of Bethesda from John Chapter 5 where Jesus healed the

Paralytic who had been paralyzed for 38 years.

So let's begin in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And let's call to mind all those that we've promised to pray for.

We do not know if Mary died or simply fell asleep into a type of coma before she was assumed into heaven. We do know the apostles were

present and they carried her body to be buried in a tomb where the

apostles were also present when Mary was assumed into heaven.

St. Germanus of Constantinople in a homily given in the year 720 states

that Mary's assumption into heaven was witnessed by the apostles who could

then confirm the truth with their authority. He writes, speaking of Mary, your departure did not lack witnesses.

Heaven tells the glory of those who ran to meet you then.

Earth presents the truth about it.

The clouds cry out the honor they paid you,

and the angels tell of the offering of gifts

that was made to you when the apostles were at your side as you passed away

above Jerusalem and for this reason the church has celebrated the feast of the

assumption in Jerusalem on August 15th from the very beginning.

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