And to-day we feel more than ever the need of the doctrine of the assumption.  One of the bitterest attacks on the Christian Faith which is being made to-day, emanating principally from within the Christian community, and even from within the Christian ministry, is that which is being made on the truth of the resurrection of the body, whether the resurrection of our Lord, or our own resurrection.  In place of the Christian doctrine believed and preached from the beginning, we are asked to lapse back into heathenism and a doctrine of immortality.  Not many seem to realise the vastness of the difference that is made in our outlook to the future by a belief in the resurrection of the body as distinguished from immortality.  But the character of the religions resulting from these two contrary beliefs is absolutely different.  It needs only to study them as they actually exist to be convinced of this fact.

And it is precisely the doctrine of the assumption of our Lady which contributes strong support to the Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body.  It teaches us that in her case the vision and hope of mankind at large has been anticipated and accomplished.  The resurrection of our Lord is found, in fact, to extend (if one may so express it) to the members of His mystical body; and the promise which is fulfilled in Blessed Mary, is that hope of a joyful resurrection which is thus confirmed to us all.  In its stress upon the assumption the mind of the Christian Church has not been led astray, has not been betrayed into fostering superstitions, but has been led by the Spirit of Christ which He promised it to the development of a truth not only revealing the present place of His glorious Mother in the Kingdom of her Son, but encouraging and heartening us in our following of the heavenly way.

     Whoe is shee that assends so high
       Next the heavenlye Kinge,
     Round about whome angells flie
       And her prayses singe?

     Who is shee that adorned with light,
       Makes the sunne her robe,
     At whose feete the queene of night
       Layes her changing globe?

     To that crowne direct thine eye,
       Which her heade attyres;
     There thou mayst her name discrie
       Wrytt in starry fires.

     This is shee, in whose pure wombe
       Heaven’s Prince remained;
     Therefore, in noe earthly tombe
       Cann shee be contayned.

     Heaven shee was, which held that fire
       Whence the world tooke light,
     And to heaven doth now aspire,
       Fflames with fflames to unite.

     Shee that did so clearly shyne
       When our day begunne,
     See, howe bright her beames decline
       Nowe shee sytts with the sunne.

     Sir John Beaumont, 1582-1628.

PART TWO

CHAPTER XXVI