The First Proof of Christ’s Promises

St. Elizabeth was given a divine inspiration to know that Our Lady held God in her womb and was privileged to be the first to proclaim this truth. The young Virgin Mary responded in poetic verse as she looked into the future and declared that all generations will call her blessed.

There are three important terms which apply to the Blessed Virgin and are intimately connected to this feast: anticipated resurrection, preservative redemption, and perfect redemption. Our Lady was privileged by an anticipated resurrection, meaning that she preceded the general resurrection of all mankind, and her Assumption more perfectly imitates the Resurrection of her Divine Son. Her preservative redemption refers to Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception. She was given an initial plenitude of grace in view of the future death of Our Lord on the Cross. It was fitting that she should not corrupt in the grave, because that is a consequence and punishment for sin. We have all been redeemed, but not perfectly so. Our perfect redemption will only be completed when we rise in glory at the end of time. The Blessed Mother, however, already enjoys her perfect redemption in her heavenly reign. Let us pray, as all Christians of past ages, that Our Mother in Heaven will bring us there without delay. When we are lost in the ocean of life, we look up to the heavens to be guided by the Star of the Sea – the Queen of Angels and Men.