Octave of the Assumption

The Most Holy Virgin Mary Crowned Queen of Heaven
El Lucero de la Grada, Monastery of Carmel, Cuenca de los Andes, Ecuador

The Octave of the Assumption of Mary began on August 15th and ended today the eighth day after the feast.  The conclusion of the octave falls on the magnificent Feast of the Queenship of Mary.  This octave falls within the Month of August which is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Therefore in so many ways it is a blessed time.  On a personal note the children's rosary planted a peace rose for Our Lady on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.  For the past 5 weeks it has been without flowers and began to appear sick.  However as the Feast of the Assumption of Mary Approached the rose showed new growth.  Seven buds appeared on the rose.  The night before the Feast of the Assumption the buds were still firmly shut. I thought at that moment if the rose opens on The Assumption surely it is Our Lady's doing.

The Feast of the Assumption brought the opening of two of the blossoms with several others beginning to open.  Today the end of the octave the last bud opened with full brilliance and pure creamy white petals.  The children's rosary has dedicated this year to renewal of family prayer. Prayers were said to Jesus asking that with each petal that forms on the rose that 1000 families would begin family prayer.  Seeing the blossoms on the rose during these special days in honor of Mary one can reflect on the fruits of the fifth glorious mystery of the rosary: Trust in the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.  It is the fruit associated with the coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Today with Our Lady's Rose in full bloom who could doubt that Our Lady loves us and intercedes before her Son for each one of us.

Thank you Mother Mary, Queen of the Angels and Saints.