August is a special month. August lies on the Coptic month of Mesra, which is dedicated to St. Mary, the Mother of God.
On Mesra 1, which is August 7, the Virgin Mary fast begins. This fast lasts 15 days, until Mesra 16, which is the day that St. Mary’s body travelled to heaven.
When St. Mary was peacefully praying, the Holy Spirit told her that she will be soon leaving this world. When the time came for her departure, she was laying on a bed. Our Lord Jesus Christ came down with thousands of angels and the disciples also came to her. Jesus comforted her and told her about the amazing place prepared for her in heaven. She was happy to hear that. She then lifted up her soul into heaven. The disciples and the women covered and prepared her body for burial.
On their way, some Jews tried to block their way. One of them touched St. Mary’s coffin to try to stop it from reaching the burial place. Immediately, his hands were separated from his body and did not return to their place until he repented for his bad deed. When he repented, his hands were reattached as they were.
St. Thomas wasn’t there for the burial, but when he was walking he saw the angels carrying St.
Mary’s body to heaven. When he met up with the rest of the disciples, they told him that St. Mary had departed but he replied, “ I will not believe, unless I see her body, as you all know how I did doubt the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ before.” They took him to the tomb, but amazingly, her body wasn’t there! All the disciples were confused and worried but St. Thomas told them about how he saw St. Mary’s pure body rise to heaven, carried by angels. The Holy Spirit then told them, “The Lord did not Will to leave Her Holy body on earth.”
May the blessings of her blessed feast be with us all. Amen.