At the foot of the Mount of Olives, there is the Garden of Gethsemane. At that time, there was a small plot belonging to the house of Zebedee, the father of Saint John the Theologian. The Theotokos would visit the very place where our Lord kneeled down and fell upon His face, praying to God the Father. She would prostrate herself on this spot and, watering the earth with her tears, she offered up fervent prayers. However, toward the end of her earthly sojourn, she received consolation from the Lord's Angel when he revealed her imminent departure to heaven.

After the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God was one consolation for His holy Disciples, their joy in sorrow and their firm teacher in the Faith. All the words and wondrous events which She had laid up in her heart, from the beginning, she then disclosed to them.

The Virgin Mary, having given Herself up to God, even though She repulsed from Herself every impulse to sin, still felt the weakness of human nature more powerfully than others and ardently desired the coming of the Savior. In Her humility, She considered Herself unworthy to be even the servant-girl of the Virgin Who was to give Him birth. So that nothing might distract Her from prayer and heedfulness to Herself, Mary gave to God a vow not to become married, in order to please only Him Her whole life long.

"I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come" (Nicene Creed).

"Limitless and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are dying, if the Lord had not given us eternal life. Our life would be pointless if it ended with death. What benefit would there then be from virtue and good deeds?

From apostolic times and to our days all who truly love Christ give veneration to Her Who gave birth to Him, raised Him, and protected Him in the days of His youth. If God the Father chose Her, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Her, and God the Son dwelt in Her, submitted to Her, and God the Son dwelt in Her, submitted to Her in the days of His youth, was concerned for Her when hanging on the Cross--then should not everyone who confesses the Holy Trinity venerate Her?