While the Mother of God was making arrangements for her death, all of a sudden a noise was heard similar to a clap of thunder. A cloud then encircled the home of Saint John the Theologian. By the command of God, Angels had seized the holy Apostles that were scattered to the ends of the world and brought them on clouds to Jerusalem. All, save the holy Apostle Thomas, were then transported to Mount Sion, before the door of the house where the Theotokos dwelt.

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?