Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

       On a practical note, this is the big feast of Mary on which many young women, especially, entered religious life.  So, many sisters remember celebrating this feast with joy, and then got ready to go off to their teaching assignments or to College classes.  I happened to attend my cousin’s making her first profession in another order on this feast and then I entered one week after the others in my postulant class.

       Now some 60 years later the feast carries a new meaning, as I serve as greeter at our Cathedral twice a month, The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, in Covington, KY. I call it the Jewell of Greater Cincinnati, because of its magnificent architecture and beauty.  On a typical day there will be visitors from all over the world, some as individuals and some on Tour busses in groups, hoping for a docent to show them the high-lights.The 86 stained glass windows cannot be missed, along with the largest one that is claimed to be the largest of a religious theme in the world, (67x24 feet) depicting the Council of Ephesus in 432, affirming that Mary is “The Mother of God.” The Gothic arches, the mosaic Stations of the Cross, and the three pipe organs are other specialties. Among the art treasures are two murals by a local artist from Covington, Frank Duveneck (1910)  Now of international renown, his works are on permanent exhibition at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

      

       On this particular feast, I would point out the ascending Madonna at the tip of the baldacchino in the sanctuary. (See right)  She was the one who announces in the Magnificat, “All generations will call be blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me.” ( Lk 1:48-49)  And I would take the group to the front of the Cathedral to see the sculptures by a local craftsman, Clement Barnhorn, who did the relief of the Assumption of Mary into heaven accompanied by the Angels, above the main doors, as well as the central statue he called “The Alma Mater” with child.  They are outstanding works of art.

      

       Let us all give praise and thanks to God for the Gift of Mary and for her being gifted with eternal life with God a prefiguring of our future glory, in the words of the Preface of today’s Mass:

“For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church’s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim peoples; rightly you would not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the Author of all life.  And so, in company with the choirs of Angels, we praise you, and with joy we proclaim:  Holy, Holy, Holy..”

       Sr. Mary Tewes, OSB

Editor's Note: For a great picture of the baldacchino where you can see a close up of the ascending Madonna go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/60124357@N06/8267200076/in/photolist-dArMB4-9AC8cL-dAz15z-dAxyym-dArNZH-dAzuHK-dAEJkq-dAyWbP-aAAaor-dAxgBy-dAF8fA-7itpnk-9Js1jz-doZgxS-dAzh6Z-aACTSd-dAzz6H-dAxgY1-8cmr4X-dAxdeq-8cpLVN-dAzBcr-75VtGf-7ixjk1-dAEtqU-dAEPny-7hwp9v-9AzdB8-7hkrGs-aAA2JK-dAF4W1-aAAaP6-dAF5jS-7ikpHL-dAyWoD-dAziic-dAzo8r-dAzBFe-9yZ4Cm-dAzyB2-9AC7Mb-dAEYsy-5P1wnm-7hgviv-dAvtp2-eMHPLs-dArEgM-dAzxYn-dAxdAG-dAEVDE/