The Catechism of the Catholic Church (974) states that the "Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son's Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body." In the following video, Dr. Scott Hahn of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology explains the Assumption by use of typology, that is: the prefigurement of people or events in the Old Testament that foreshadow or point to their fulfilment and perfection in the New Testament. The same way that St. Paul can speak of Adam as a 'type' of Christ (Rom. 5:14) or St. Peter can refer to the Flood as a 'prefigurement' of Baptism (1 Pet. 3:21), so too can we see Mary as the 'anti-type' of women such as Eve or Bathsheba. The hymns selected from the Divine Office for use on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary reflect her maternal role as Mother of the Church and as Queen Mother.
Praise to Mary, Heaven's Gate is a 1965 Rev. Michael M. Quinn O.P. translation of the 9th. century anonymous Latin hymn, Ave Maris Stella (see 2nd video). From earliest times it was used in the Roman Breviary at Vespers on Marian Feast Days. Fr. Quinn's text is set to the tune, Gott Sei Dank (Lubeck) by the Lutheran Pastor and Theologian, Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen (1670-1739). His Geistreiches Gesangsbuch of 1704 (also known as Freylinghausen's Songbook), in which Gott Sei Dank was first published, is considered an importatant advancement in the development and organization of hymnals. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Praise to May, Heaven's Gate is used in the Commons of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on the Feast of the Assumption.
Tune: Lubeck
AVE MARIS STELLA (Public Domain)
1. Ave maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
atque semper Virgo,
felix caeli porta.
2. Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
funda nos in pace,
mutans Hevae nomen.
3. Solve vincula reis,
profer lumen caecis
mala nostra pelle,
bona cuncta posce.
4. Monstra te esse matrem:
sumat per te preces,
qui pro nobis natus,
tulit esse tuus.
5. Virgo singularis,
inter omnes mites,
nos culpis solutos,
mites fac et castos.
6. Vitam praesta puram,
iter para tutum:
ut videntes Iesum
semper collaetemur.
7. Sit laus Deo Patri,
summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
tribus honor unus. Amen.
Mary the Dawn was first published in 1949 under the pen name 'Paul Cross', believed to be a pseudonym for Fr. Justin Mulcahy, C.P. (1894-1981). A Passionist Priest from the St. Paul of the Cross Province, he studied at the Pius X School of Liturgical Music in New York and eventually earned a degree in Church Music from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Vatican. The haunting melody of Mary the Dawn is an adaptation of Gregorian Mode IV. In some hymnals, the text is attributed to 'Anonymous', while others show the author as Paul Cross. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is used in the Commons of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on the Feast of the Assumption. The 1st video below features a choral version conducted by Richard Proulx from the album, Marian Classics. The 2nd video features a contemporary interpretation by the Daughters of St. Paul from their album, Stella Maris.
Mother of Holy Hope was written by Fr. Lucien Deiss C.S.Sp. (1921-2007). It was first published in 1965 as part of the collection: Biblical Hymns and Psalms, Volume 1. Besides writing many hymns honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Reverend Deiss also authored the book:
Mary, Daughter of Sion (Liturgical Press, 1972), which reflects upon the life of Mary as a Daughter of Abraham. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Mother of Holy Hope is used in the Commons of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on the Feast of the Assumption.
Hail, Holy Queen was written by Fr. Lucien Deiss C.S.Sp. (1921-2007). It was first published in 1965 as part of the collection: Biblical Hymns and Psalms, Volume 1. Besides writing many hymns honouring the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Deiss also authored the book: Joseph, Mary, Jesus (Liturgical Press, 1996) which reflects on the childhood of Jesus and the influence, both intellectually and spiritually that Joseph and Mary had in his life. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Hail, Holy Queen is used on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption; and in the Commons of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Joy to You was written by Fr. Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp. It was first published in 1970 as part of the collection: Biblical Hymns and Psalms, Volume II. It was also featured on a recording by Fr. Deiss called Joy to You, Mother of the Lord: 12 Songs in Honor of Our Lady. Fr. Deiss was very involved in liturgical renewal during Vatican II. His efforts to compose new hymns of devotion to Our Lady corresponded to the issuing of several important theological Papal documents following Vatican II concerning the renewal and reaffirmation of the role of Mary in the Church. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Joy to You is used on the Feast Day of Mary, the Mother of God and on the Feast of the Assumption.
