On August 15th, the Episcopal Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin. This is our expression of a much older festival. In most of the Western Church, this day is celebrated as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she is thought to have been taken up (assumed) into heaven at the time her death. In the Eastern part of the Church, this moment is known as the Dormition (the Falling Asleep) of Mary. The Eastern Orthodox understanding is that Mary died a natural death, but she was resurrected on the third day and taking into heaven. The formal Roman Catholic position avoids saying whether she was alive or dead when taken to heaven, but most theologians (included John Paul II) hold that she died normally before her Assumption.

The scriptures do not tell us the story of the Virgin Mary after the Pentecost, so we have to rely on much later traditions. According to one popular version, the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, who was living in Jerusalem, and revealed that she would die in three days. All the apostles except for Thomas, scattered throughout the world, are miraculously brought to her deathbed to say goodbye. At her request, Mary is buried in Gethsemane. Three days later, Thomas is brought and he is given a vision of her body leaving for heaven. He asks her where she is going, and in reply she takes off her girdle and give is to him (an image well known from medieval and renaissance art). Her grave is empty leaving only a sweet smell.

In remembrance of this sweet smell, the practice of blessing herbs, especially rosemary, became popular. It appears that this practice began in Germany during the 900s, but the practice soon spread around the Western Church. Many medieval legends emerged around rosemary. One tells us that the Holy Family found shade under a rosemary bush on their flight to Egypt. Another tells us that Virgin Mary changed the color of the rosemary flowers from white to blue after draping her blue cloak over blooming rosemary bush. Yet another records that the manger in Bethlehem was lined with rosemary. Because of this story, rosemary was a popular decoration at Christmas.

Regardless of the story, rosemary was an important herb from antiquity. It was thought to have medicinal properties. It was thought to be especially useful as an enhancement for memory. In Hamlet, Ophelia refers to this belief when she distributes herbs to the court: ‘Rosemary, that’s for remembrance.’ As late as 2017, contemporary researchers are finding rosemary’s benefits toward memory and relieving anxiety.

Traditionally, the herbs blessed on August 15th are taken home. Sometimes these herbs are simply be used in cooking. Other folks hang the herbs to allow them to dry and decorate the home in remembrance of God’s love and the witness of Mary, the Mother of God.