LANFRANCO, Giovanni, Italian painter (b. 1582, Parma, d. 1647, Roma)
We turn to you for protection,
holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers
and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
glorious and blessed Virgin.
The doctrine of the Assumption, which teaches that at the end of her life, Mary, the mother of Christ, was taken body and soul (i.e. both physically and spiritually) into heaven to live with her son (Christ) for ever.
Human beings have to wait until the end of time for their bodily resurrection, but Mary's body was able to go straight to heaven because her soul hadn't been tainted by original sin.
Ref: BBC Interfaith Calendar
In loving service,
Nuria & Our Workers
