Today's Solemnity of Mary's Assumption inspires me to once more sing with Dante Alighieri parts of Canto 33 of his Paradiso. The poem keeps alive the spirit of prayer and hope that no matter how difficult things may appear, there is always One who knows us best and who is there to lead us to where we, earthly pilgrims, are meant to be one day. May this help us "connect with our lovely and loving intercessor" Mary, our Mother, source of all beauty, compassion and grace."Thou Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son,
humble and high beyond all other creature,
the limit fixed of the eternal counsel,
thou art the one who such nobility
to human nature gave,
that its Creator
did not disdain to make himself its creature.
Within thy womb rekindled was the love,
by heat of which in the eternal peace
after such wise this flower has germinated.
Here unto us thou art a noonday torch
of charity, and below there among mortals
thou art the living fountain-head of hope.
Lady, thou art so great, and so prevailing,
that he who wishes grace, nor runs to thee,
his aspirations without wings would fly.
Not only thy benignity gives succour
to him who asketh it, but oftentimes
forerunneth of its own accord the asking.
In thee compassion is, in thee is pity,
in thee magnificence; in thee unites
whate'er of goodness is in any creature.
Now doth this man, who from the lowest depth
of the universe as far as here has seen
one after one the spiritual lives,
supplicate thee through grace for so much power
that with his eyes he may uplift himself
higher towards the uttermost salvation.
And I, who never burned for my own seeing
more than I do for his, all of my prayers
proffer to thee, and pray they come not short,
that thou wouldst scatter from him every cloud
of his mortality so with thy prayers,
that the Chief Pleasure be to him displayed.
