Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Assumption of Our Lady


Defined a Dogma by the Catholic Church on November 1, 1950. The Definition of the Dogma is that the Immaculate Mother of God, the Ever Virgin Mary having completed the course of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

There are five general sources of support for this Dogma:

1. The consensus of the teaching church –

Pope Pius XII asked the Bishops of the world in 1946 -

a. Is the Assumption definable?

b. Do you and your flock desire a definition?

8 million petitions over 95 years wanted this Dogma declared. There was a petition from the Fathers in Vatican I to make this a dogma.

2. Sacred Scripture – Pope Pius XII returns us to Genesis 3:15 and the teachings of St. Paul on sin. Mary shares the same victory over sin and death Jesus does due to their mutual entity with Satan and sin. St. Paul tells us (Romans 5-8, 1 Cor 15, 24, 26) the effects of the seed of Satan are sin and death, therefore Mary had to triumph over sin and death. She triumphs over sin through her Immaculate Conception and triumphs over death in her Assumption.

a. Luke 1:28 – Full of grace: her being full of grace would not be tainted by the effects of sin which would not be bodily death.

b. Psalm 131:8 – Arise O Lord out of your resting place and you and the Ark which you have sanctified.

c. Rev 11:19 – Mary as the Ark of the Heavenly Jerusalem

d. Rev 12:1 – Woman crowned is the woman assumed.

3. Sacred Tradition – First clear reference in the homilies of St. Gregory of Tours (+593) by this time there are established liturgies.

4. Sacred Liturgy – In Egypt and Syria there are liturgies on our Lady by the 5th and 6th centuries. There is a clear and common teaching. By the 7th century, the Assumption is celebrated in Gaul and 8th century it’s celebrated in Rome. 12th century – accepted as doctrinal teaching.

5. Connection between the Assumption and other Marian Dogmas

a. Theotokos – Mary would be presented from the decay of the grave by a privilege their her divine son could grant her.

b. Immaculate Conception and the Assumption – the Assumption is the natural effect of the Immaculate Conception.

Now arises the question that has been debated for centuries and is still debated today - Did Mary Die? There are two schools that make their respective arguments on this question, the Mortalists and Immortalists.

First, the Mortalists position is that Mary experienced a temporary separation of spirit and body but without body corruption. Her spirit would assume directly into heaven and her body would be on earth for three days like Jesus. She wants to be a disciple. [Stronger position] Pope John Paul II favored this position. The Eastern Church also views this position as the Dormition of Mary (August 14).

Second, the Immortalists position is that Mary with Body and Soul intact was just assumed into heaven. She could not do this on her own power. Her assumption is active.

Personally, after studying this Dogma and reading of I have read about it, I favor the Mortalist view. My favoring of this view is rooted in the Death of Christ. If Jesus had to die, why wouldn't have Mary had to die? Both were perfect and without sin, but I think Our Lord allowed his Mother to see death. Her body did not corrupt as our bodies do at death. Like Jesus, the body of Mary remains here on earth for three days. The Body of Mary is then assumed into heaven where it is united again with her soul.

Then there is the question, Where did Mary die?

1. Jerusalem – She ended her life with the Apostles in Jerusalem.

2. Ephesus – Mary did go with John to Ephesus.

Mary, Assumed Body and Soul into Heaven - Pray for Us!

This information came from notes that I took in Theology 655 - Mary in the Modern World with Dr. Mark Miravalle, Spring 2009.


1 comment:

BK said...

Very nice. Thanks Tom!