Fr. Z's patristic rosary project has art & meditations. The final meditation from the 6th c. is especially interesting. I'm looking for my favorite text on the Assumption. If I find it, I'll post later.
[Later] Not finding it, but I did find this, from the late Fr. Most, who used to be in residence at my previous parish. He cites from the definition of the dogma of the Assumption:
"We must remember especially that, since the second century, the Virgin Mary has been presented by the Holy Fathers as the New Eve, who, although subject to the New Adam, was most closely associated with Him in that struggle against the infernal enemy which, as foretold in the protoevangelium, was to result in that most complete victory over sin and death, which are always correlated in the writings of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Wherefore, just as the glorious resurrection of Christ was an essential part and final sign of this victory, so also that struggle which was common to the Blessed Virgin and her Son had to be closed by the 'glorification' of her virginal body" (AAS 42. 768).And adds his commentary:
The thought is brilliant. The Pope first recalled the New Eve theme, which we have seen. Then he focused on the fact, within that theme, that the New Eve had been closely associated with the New Adam in the struggle against sin and death. Still further, in the case of her Son, that struggle had brought glorification. Since the struggle was in common to both, then a common cause would have a common effect: it had to bring a parallel glorification to her, the Assumption. Marvelous.Pius was a great champion of the dignity of women, among other things.
