WE read here and there in books, that very often angels came at the departure of good men, and with spiritual hymns led their souls to heaven. And, what is yet more certain, at their departure some have heard the singing of male and female voices, accompanied by a great light and a sweet perfume.*
Now if Jesus has often shown such honour at the death of his saints, and commanded their souls to be brought to him with heavenly hymns, how much more, do you imagine, would he now, today, send the heavenly host to meet his own mother, that they with light beyond measure, and hymns beyond words, might lead her to the throne which was prepared for her from the beginning of the world?
There is no doubt that all the heavenly host would rejoice with unspeakable bliss in her coming. Indeed, we believe that the Lord himself came to meet her, and benignly, delightedly, placed her by him on his throne.*
See St Chad and the Invisible Choir.
Ode VIII of the Canon for the feast says: ‘The angelic hosts were amazed, seeing their Master in Zion, bearing in His arms a woman’s soul; for as befitteth a Son, He exclaimed to her in all-pure manner: Come, O pure one, and be glorified with thy Son and God!’
Précis
Elfric, Abbot of Eynsham, reflected on the death of the Virgin Mary, and surmised what might have happened on the basis of stories current in his own time of the death of Christian saints. He thought it safe to suppose that for his own mother, Christ would have sent choirs of angels and sweet odours as he brought her home. (60 / 60 words)