I’ve heard it said a million times that I shouldn’t worry about falling asleep during prayer. Even St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church, and countless other saints spent nights in the chapel, nodding off a time or two in their pursuit of a deeper prayer life.
Yet, after about a year of dozing off in prayer, I felt the Lord nudging my heart: “Why are you so tired all the time?” Jolted awake by how clearly he spoke, I started to ponder my priorities and realized I had severely neglected to make rest a non-negotiable part of my schedule.
Want more Radiant? Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
Though it’s easy to chastise oneself for needing breaks or feeling tired — viewing these needs as indulgences rather than necessities — behind the mask of false piety thereʼs a greater invitation to humility and trust. Recognizing our weaknesses and addressing our real human needs opens the door for the grace of God to be more deeply rooted in our soul to find its full flourishing in our flesh.
Itʼs not pathetic to admit you have needs.
Itʼs not vain to care for our exterior.
Itʼs not selfish to engage in self-care.
Body and soul
The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us of God’s holistic care for us, both body and soul. Mary’s assumption into heaven, body and soul, highlights the dignity and sanctity of our physical being. The Lord did not only raise up the sweet soul of Our Lady to the heights of heaven but rather received her in accordance with the way in which he made her: a beautiful body and soul. God values our physical state just as much as our spiritual one, which means that rest and self-care are not indulgences but a necessary stewardship of the providence God has bestowed upon us.
In more recent depictions of the Assumption, particularly by Juan Munera Ochoa, we see the Blessed Virgin Mary sleeping in a sheet as angels lift her up into heaven. The tranquility and peace on the face of Mary as she submits herself wholly to God affirms that our bodies are sacred vessels united with our souls in one common mission to arrive at our true home. Our bodies are not tossed aside at the gates of heaven, nor do our souls evaporate into a black hole when we leave life here on earth. Rather, in heaven, Our Lord provides us with the eternal restoration and integration of our body and soul so we may receive the fullness of his eternal glory.
As we celebrate the solemnity of the Assumption, let’s embrace the truth that God cares for our entire being. By prioritizing rest, we respond to the call to be whole and holy. In taking care of our exterior, we provide a tangible and visible image of the hand of God that constantly seeks to bring us into abundant life.
Throughout the life of Mary, as detailed in sacred Scripture, we see that in and through all challenges, God always provided for her needs. After receiving the visit from the angel, God provided Mary with a spouse in Joseph, who cherished and protected her and her child. When she needed a place to give birth to baby Jesus, a stable was provided just in time. When facing the threat of King Herod and his bloodthirsty men, the Holy Family was delivered from danger and brought to refuge. When attending the wedding of dear friends, the Lord provided wine to ensure the celebratory spirits remained high. When her only son was murdered right before her eyes, she was given a new family to love and be loved by.
In recognizing our needs, we give God permission to provide in our current reality. When we care for ourselves, we are participating in God’s desire for us to experience abundant life in every aspect of our being. The Assumption teaches us that God cherishes every aspect of our being. In nurturing both our body and soul, we experience a taste of the glory that awaits us when we, God willing, arrive at our eternal reward.
For all those beholding a myriad of needs and poverties, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, and feel helpless or confused on how to tend to any one of them, know that Mary stands by to share her maternal heart. Just like every good mother, Mary delights in our neediness. She is never burdened by our mess or deterred by our brokenness, but rather she is evermore longing to love us into wholeness. On this solemnity of the Assumption, may we call upon our Mother Mary to be our mother in all the places of our needs, body and soul alike.
