The Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary to Heaven

 

Aug-15: Feast of The Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary to Heaven

In 1950, Pope Pius XII defined Mary's Assumption into Heaven as a dogma of Roman Catholicism, in the encyclical: Munificentissimus Deus. I quote: "The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven." Unquote.

The word Assumption comes from the Latin verb assumere, meaning "to take to oneself." Our Lord, Jesus Christ took Mary home to himself where he is when she died, just as Enoch and Elijah had been taken up body and soul to Heaven at the end of their lives (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11).

The Assumption of Mary (“Dormition of Mary” in the Eastern Churches) to Heaven is unlike the Ascension of Jesus to Heaven. Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven by His own power. In contrast, Mary is believed to have been taken up into Heaven by God.

Furthermore, Pope Pius XII declared, "The Most Blessed Virgin Mary’s perfect reunion with that of her son Christ the Redeemer is evident from the birth of Jesus to after His death, as seen in: Mary's Immaculate Conception (born without the stain of the original sin hence becoming full of grace, making her worthy of being the Mother of Jesus and exempt from the corruption of the body by death), Mary’s miraculous conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit, Mary’s prompting of Jesus during His first miracle at Cana, Mary’s witness to her Son’s crucifixion when he gives her in the care of St John, and Mary’s presence at Pentecost after Jesus’s death. Accordingly, the Catholic Church reasons that Mary’s union with Jesus requires a continuation after death, meaning that as Jesus entered Heaven with his body and soul, so did His mother."

St Paul in Romans 6:23 says something that could very well apply to the Most Blessed Virgin, Mother of God: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”

The Catholic Church believes that Chapter 12, of St John's, Book of Revelation refers to Mary, as the woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown on her head.

Christian theology holds that the faithful will all be raised in a glorious form on the Parousia, the second coming of Christ on the Last Day of Judgement, and made immaculate to be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 21:27). Since Mary was the first person to say “yes” to the Good News of Jesus (Luke 1:38) and maintained ever faithful in her devotion to Christ even after His death and Resurrection, she’s seen as the perfect role model for Christians. 

Pope St. John Paul II concluded that Mary died a natural death. For, as he argued, if Christ tasted death, Mary must have as well: “The Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death.” As he expressed it, “To share in Christ’s Resurrection, Mary had first to share in his death.” 

In the fifth century, Transitus (passing on, crossing over) Mariae, attributed to Melito of Sardes gave these details of Mary's Assumption: In the presence of the Apostles gathered around her bed, also in the presence of her divine Son and many angels, Mary died and her soul, rose to heaven, accompanied by Christ and the angels. Her body was buried by the disciples. Difficulties developed among certain of the Jews who wished to dispose of her body. Various types of miracles occurred to convince them to honor Mary's body. On the third day, Christ returned. At the request of the Apostles, the soul of Mary is reunited with her body. Accompanied by singing angels, Christ brought Mary to paradise.


As Pope Pius XII expressed, “Belief in Mary’s bodily Assumption into heaven will make our belief in our own resurrection stronger and render it more effective” (Munificentissimus Deus, 42). That Mary was assumed into heaven reminds us that our homeland is not here on earth, but we will be raised one day—when our bodies and souls will be united at the final judgment.

Mother Mary's story does not stop with her Assumption. After entering heaven, Mary has remained active in the service of her Son for the life of the Church. Many Christians believe that she has manifested her concern in visible appearances and miraculous cures through her intercessions to her son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

References: 
1. Munificentissimus Deus (November 1, 1950): Pius XII. Munificentissimus Deus (November 1, 1950) | PIUS XII. (1950, October 31). https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html 
2. Naumann, Sr. Isabell. (ISSM). University of Daytona. Assumption: History of Doctrine. https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/a/assumption-history-of-doctrine.php
3. Endres, David Fr. (2022, August 22). Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. Mary’s assumption. Catholic Telegraph. https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/marys-assumption/82083 
4. Smyth, D. (2019, July 22). What is the assumption of mary? origins of this Catholic doctrine. What Is the Assumption of Mary? Origins of this Catholic Doctrine. https://www.christianity.com/church/what-is-the-assumption-of-mary-origins-of-this-catholic-doctrine.html