The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

Secular presentation

The fourth glorious mystery

And now in the place at the head of the frame, we see Mary, the mother of Jesus.  The artist has positioned here like this to show that she is being taken up to the same place as Jesus went when He ascended by His own power.

Both Jews and Christians believe in the resurrection of the body after death, at what is called 'the last day', but here we see something exceptional.  Jesus was both God and man, but Mary is only a woman.  She is being taken up to heaven at the time of her death, in a living bodily form.  We see her being 'resurrected' by the power of God, taken up by Angels as a fore-taste of the promise of eternal life, that Jesus gave to all who would die in His friendship.  As we saw in the first scene, Mary was the first to say yes to Jesus, and always stood by in what He needed to do, even at the foot of the cross, and later with His Church.  We Christians can be sure that in heaven, she continues to do His will.  As when the fire came to the Church, she will be praying now, united with His Church.