When Thou didst go to the Passion, O Word, Mary was left all sorrowful; when Thou didst arise, she remained all confident; when Thou didst ascend to heaven, all admiring.
Mary sees the Humanity, taken from herself, formed by her most precious blood, and nourished with her milk, arrive in heaven. She sees the multitude of the angels, and the beautiful and numerous company of the holy Fathers, among who stands particularly John the Baptist, through whom she was praised, and whom she caused to leap for joy in his mother’s womb.
Mary had prophesied of the Word, but nobody penetrated the glory He possessed, so incomprehensible it was.
O Eternal Word! what did the creature do for Thee, for whom Thou hast wrought so many things, and for whose greater glory now Thou dost ascend to heaven?
O Infinite Goodness! O Love! little known, less loved, and by few possessed!
O Love Incarnate! O Word Humanified! O Eternal Wisdom! Oh, our ingratitude, the cause of all evil!
O, my Spouse! now that Thou art with Thy Humanity in heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father: “Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis” — “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Ps. 51:10).
Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
Works of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
XVII. Of the Ascension of Christ the Savior (excerpt)
Fabrini, P. & De’ Pazzi, M.M. 1900, The life of St. Mary Magdalen De-Pazzi: Florentine noble, sacred Carmelite virgin, translated from the Italian by Isoleri A., [publisher not identified] Philadelphia.
Featured image: This detail from a stained glass window in St Etheldreda’s Church in London shows the Lord’s ascension to heaven. Photo credit: Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. (Some rights reserved).
Carmelite Quotes 
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