Redemption through Paschal Mystery Part 4
What happened to the Blessed Virgin Mary after the Ascension of Jesus into heaven?
Because of her special role in salvation history, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s perfect cooperation with her Son’s work of redemption, and her intercessory role in heaven, she is called by the Church a mediatrix and the “mother of all graces.”
CCC 969: "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . ... Therefore, the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."
There are several powerful insights into her life revealed through Scripture. In the Acts of the Apostles St. Luke writes that Jesus' mother was physically present at the very moment of Pentecost when the Apostles and disciples were together praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had commanded them. Mary was there! She was praying right along with them. So, we know for sure that the Blessed Virgin Mary was very prayerful during those last years. Her prayer was quite effective... even able to call down God the Holy Spirit from heaven to earth!
“When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1: 13-14)
Another text from Scripture comes from the Gospel of St. John. When Jesus is on the cross near death, in His last moments, He sees His mother standing next to St. John and profoundly declared, “Woman, behold, your son…Behold, your mother” (See Jn 19: 26-27). In these brief words Jesus puts John into Mary’s care, and Mary into John’s care. The more profound significance of His words of course is that the Mother of the Redeemer, to our great amazement became the Mother of the redeemed as well...Mary became our Mother! But regarding our inquiry about Mary's whereabouts after the Ascension, the second part of Jesus’ words is quite telling, that Mary was entrusted to St. John. Saint John immediately notes in his Gospel that "from that hour he took her into his home" (Jn 19: 27). Because of this, we can be confident that from the moment of the crucifixion onwards, the Blessed Virgin Mary was always cared for and protected by St. John. Wherever St. John went, we assume the Blessed Virgin Mary went with him.
Another line of Sacred Scripture we find out more about Mary's life after the Ascension. In the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation, we see in the visions of St. John the Evangelist the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing in the sky, clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and, on her head, a crown of twelve stars. Of course, this book of the Bible was written by St. John, so we know his witness is true. In this passage, he gives proof to us that after the Ascension, Our Mother Mary was assumed into heaven and was crowned as queen for all eternity. That's where she is to this very day.
Until we meet the Lord in heaven, every person must cooperate with him through a life of prayer animated by faith. Given this new mode of existence, Christ wants his followers to believe without seeing, speaking the words to St. Thomas the Apostle: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (Jn 20:29)
The Resurrection is an invitation for every Christian to believe Jesus Christ is alive. Now that he transcends space and time, everyone can have an intimate, personal relationship with him. The transcendence of Christ’s glorified Body makes him present everywhere: in the Church, in the Sacraments, and in the lives of his followers. In heaven, the faithful will contemplate the risen Christ directly and eternally, but during our sojourn on earth we will encounter him on the level of faith and love.
—Dn. Gerry Flamm
“Dear children! Today too I want to call you to prayer and to complete surrender to God. You know that I love you and that out of love I have come here to show you the way to peace and salvation of your souls. I want you to listen to me and not allow Satan to deceive you. Dear children! Satan is quite strong. And therefore, I ask for your prayers to offer them for those who are under Satan’s influence, so that they too may be saved. Witness with your lives. Sacrifice your lives for the salvation of the world. I am with you and I thank you, and in heaven you will receive from the Father the reward that He has promised you. Therefore, little children, do not be afraid! If you pray, Satan cannot harm you in the least, because you are children of God and God watches over you. Pray! And may the rosary always be in your hands as a sign to Satan that you belong to me. Thank you for having responded to my call!”