An Introduction to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

719 Words2 Pages

The human Ark of Divine Covenant was assumed in to heaven. The body which gave birth to God himself on this earth was not allowed to be decayed after death. It has been the belief of the Christians, right from the early days of Christianity, that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary completed God’s work in her since it was not fitting that the flesh that had given life to God himself should ever undergo corruption. The virgin whose life began fully in grace, as was hailed by heaven “full of grace, the Lord is with you,” has to be ended fittingly by assuming into heaven.

Dogma of the Catholic Church

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been announced as a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. This doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, through his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus. The dogma teaches that the Blessed Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” This belief is accepted as the Dormition of the Theotokos by the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Belief of Churches

Besides the Roman Catholics, the Christians of the Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the bodily taken up into Heaven at the end of her life. The taking of Mary into Heaven had been an established teaching across the Eastern, Western, Coptic and Oriental churches from at least the late 7th Century and they had been celebrating the festival of Mary’s assumption settling the date at August 15.

Belief from the very beginning of Christianity

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ma...

... middle of paper ...

...ion doctrine

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin of Mary was solemnly declared as a doctrine on November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII. He declared it with the words, “By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: 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.” The feast of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary was declared to be observed on August 15.

The humble virgin of Nazareth was honored through her Assumption, thus proving the words of her Magnificat, “He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me.” (Luke 1:48-49)

Works Cited

Wikipedia

More about An Introduction to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Open Document