“Celebrating today the Assumption of the Holy Mother Mary, dearest Brethern, it behoves you to rejoice in spirit, in that God has willed for your salvation to raise her from the earthly dwellings to the heavenly mansions. The Mother of Our Lord is assumed today by God, the Creator of all things, to the heavenly kingdom, and she who by her chaste child-bearing brought life to the human race, today ascends to Heaven to pray to God at all times for us. Let it be our prayer, whilst we keep the day of the Assumption, that she may assist us by her merits, and may protect us from the snares of Satan, that so through her we may deserve to attain the joys of Paradise.”Source: The Queen of Ireland – An Historical Account of Ireland's Devotion to the Blessed Virgin by Mrs Helena Concannon (Dublin, 1938), 41-42.
Bobbio is the Italian monastery founded by the great Irish missionary and patron of Europe Saint Columbanus (feastday November 23). In a footnote to the above extract, Mrs Concannon says that it was discovered among fragments of Irish manuscripts in Turin and has been dated to a period not later than the ninth century. The Bobbio Missal also contains a special Mass for the Feast of the Assumption.
Is that Dr. Helena Concannon who was the NUI Senator? I've read quite a bit of her work and she is always easy to read but very thorough and scholarly. Thank you Brigit. Niall
ReplyDeleteYes, it is indeed. She was interested in women's history before it was fashionable. Even her life of Saint Patrick contains a chapter on 'St Patrick and the Women of Ireland'. I find her work very enjoyable too.
ReplyDeletegondefulI have you added to my blogroll now. Sorry for the delay!
ReplyDeleteBrigit would you think of a series on Dr. Helena Concannon? It would be a fitting tribute to a lady who was famous for her 'series' on women and the Faith.
ReplyDeleteWell done on your blogs. They are just the stuff.
AS
I'm not sure I would have the time right now to do the necessary research, but I will keep it in mind. I think I have another extract from this book for the feast of the Annunciation and will publish that, please God, when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteGood one! This is stuff that I don't know about and I like to hear it. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteIts great to hear of the devotion of the ancient Irish to the blessed virgin.
ReplyDeleteReally interseting post. Like your site lots. Can we have more about Waterford please?
ReplyDeleteOur Lady's assumption is one of the great truths of our Catholic faith. It shows us the way to heaven and shows us the way we can follow. Hail Mary full of grace!
ReplyDeleteGood stuff Brigit. Another winner.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff Brigit. Another winner.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post. Really good to hear about this stuff from the Irish Fathers of the Church.
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