For Catholics only, please...?

Question

On this, the eve of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, how can we show/prove the Assumption and Coronation to Protestants? My goal is not necessarily to convert them and for them to have some kind of divine revelation; I would just like the history of how these great events became Church teaching. When I try to prove my point, I just get, "Where does it say that in the Bible?" shoved in my face. How can we refute that?

And please, no Protestant crap answers about Catholics so-called "distorted view of Mary". If you are a Protestant and have something meaningful to say, I welcome your thoughts. But I am not here to be bludgeoned by your ignorance.

Answer 1

On November 1, 1950, Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith: “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 to heavenly glory.” The pope proclaimed this dogma only after a broad consultation of bishops, theologians and laity. There were few dissenting voices. What the pope solemnly declared was already a common belief in the Catholic Church.
We find homilies on the Assumption going back to the sixth century. In following centuries the Eastern Churches held steadily to the doctrine, but some authors in the West were hesitant. However, by the thirteenth century there was universal agreement. The feast was celebrated under various names (Commemoration, Dormition, Passing, Assumption) from at least the fifth or sixth century.

Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless, Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and evil. Many see this woman as God’s people. Since Mary best embodies the people of both Old and New Testament, her Assumption can be seen as an exemplification of the woman’s victory.

Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul speaks of Christ’s resurrection as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to belief in Mary’s share in his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him body and soul in heaven.
Hope that will help a little bit in your search for the understand of this day.

Answer 2

+ The Assumption +

Catholics believe in the assumption of the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven after her death.

John 19:26-27 states:

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple (John) took her into his home.

The minutes of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431 C.E. indicate that four or six years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, John and the Virgin Mary came together to Ephesus, and for a short time stayed in the building, a section of which is now under Church of the Virgin Mary today.

Later John moved the Virgin Mary to a house he had prepared for her on Bulbul Dagi (Bulbul Hill). She lived there until the end of her earthly life.

St. John of Damascus (P. G., I, 96) later wrote:

St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened, upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven.

http://www.turktour.com/virgin_mary.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02006b.htm

+ Mother of God, Queen of Heaven +

Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, and therefore can be addressed as the Mother of God.

This is similar to a commoner who marries a king and becomes the mother of the next king. She is entitled to the title Queen and Mother of the King even though she is not royalty.

Nobody two hundred, five hundred or a thousand years ago would have been confused about these terms.

But this is hard for people to understand in these times where royalty and kings and queens are few and far between.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Hello,
I was raised in a Baptist Church, mainly because there were no Catholic Churches in out area. The Bible that was used in the Baptist Church, as my father explains it, does not include all of the books of the Bible that the one that he used as a Catholic child did. Perhaps the reason why so many matters are misunderstood by Protestants is because their initial knowledge of the matter is adulterated. My school curriculum that I use is based on Catholicism and helped show me the rituals of the Catholic Church in an understandable way. I don't think I answered your question, but just remember that people are most responsive when they are shown new things, such as the Assumption, in a simple matter.

Answer 4

The Bodily Assumption is logical:if you could resurrect your mother ,wouldn't you? Do you think that Jesus,who is fully human and fully God,would be less loving and caring than you?

Also, Elijah and Enoch were taken up bodily into Heaven. Are they greater than the Mother of the Savior?

Jesus is fully human but He is eternally and fully true God as well.Jesus is risen from the dead by His own divine power,so as 'firstborn from the dead" He is not our full model in Resurrection since we are not divine persons with the power to raise ourselves. Mary is not God but a human who needs the grace of God to be raised. That Mary should be raised and taken to heaven is a testimony to our resurrection on the Last Day.

Some see the Assumption in the Woman Clothed With the Sun in Revelation who is "taken away to a place prepared' from the revenge of the Dragon.

TheDormition and Assumption of the Mother of Jesus is part of oral Tradition and goes way back. The decomposition of Mary's corpse has never been part of Christian Tradition and no first class(body part) relic has ever been presented or alluded to in ancient Christian literature

Answer 5

Q: "Where is that in the Bible? If it's not in the bible, than you can't believe it."
A: "Catholics believe in the primacy of scriptures, but we also draw on the teachings of the early church, tradition, and continuing thought and underingstanding. We're just different that way."

Q: "Why are you putting so much important on Mary? You do realize that you're worshipping her and making her more important than Jesus, right?"
A: "I'm really sorry it comes across that way to you, but any Catholic who thinks that Mary is somehow divine or is in ANY way more important than Jesus is gravely mistaken. We see her as the very model of living a life of obedience to God. As such, and as the mother of Jesus who was so intimately connected to him through conception and birth, we just think it makes more since for her body not to have been touched by decay and whatnot. According to the Old Testament, Elijah was taking into the heavens; why not Mary too?"


((I have no desire to "prove" anything to anyone. That kind of thinking seems to build more walls than bridges. I will gladly explain my beliefs to anyone who wants to know, but we will all make up our own minds no matter what others say.))

Answer 6

It is incumbent upon Catholics to understand that Protestant/evangelicals constantly go back to "where is that in the Bible?" because the "last straw" for the reformers 500 years ago involved the horrid practice of selling indulgences ... definitely NOT Biblical and blatantly corrupt. "Sola scriptura" was the cautionary note of the times.

It is also incumbent upon Protestant/evangelicals to realize that in clinging to "sola scriptura" far past the point of reforming the Church they have thrown out the baby with the bathwater, and cut themselves off from the fullest expression of the Christian faith. The Bible itself does not hold up Scripture as the sole and only source.

As for the Feast of the Assumption, Fr. Clifford Stevens has written a very good and concise explanation of its history and what it means to Catholics:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/AOFMARY.HTM


Edit: Welcome back, Father K!

Answer 7

I always ask the "thinking" Protestant: If The Blessed Virgin Mary was not bodily assumed into Heaven...then...where are Her relics? The Church of Ephesus (near wher She lived during her latter days) is in the Orthodox East - where relics are kept and adored. What greater relics can there be than those of the Blessed Virgin?? And yet, they do not exist.

Answer 8

Thank you for inviting comments by Protestants as well.

First let me say that it is wonderful that you are so sincere in your faith.

Secondly, as a Protestant, let me say that quite frankly it does not matter to me if Mary simply died and was buried as other humans, or if she ascended to heaven, or if she was coronated, etc., etc., etc.

You see, whether God chose to honor Mary this way is between Him and Mary and does not in any fashion raise her above other humans any more than Paul or Moses or Abraham. They were all HUMANS who loved and obeyed God, despite their flaws and sin (and yes, Mary sinned just like the rest of us. Note: "In her magnificent psalm uttered while carrying the Christ child, she exclaimed: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Lk. 1:47). Observe that she referred to the Lord as “my Savior” – not merely “a Savior,” or “the Savior.” No sinless person needs a Savior. Clearly this statement implies that Mary was a sinner just like the rest of us (Rom. 3:23)."

Third, and what I see as the most crucial point, Mary's position at this point, and/or since the moment of her death, is NOT an essential element of the Christian faith. God never says you must believe this about Mary or you will not be saved. So if it is not an essential issue, it is debatable. Therefore I respect your right to believe it, but do not agree with you.

I have to ask (and please feel free to respond by email) what exactly I would be converted TO if I were converted from being a Protestant to being a Catholic? Do we not both believe in the God of the Bible? Yes, there are doctrinal issues that we disagree on, but unless you are not saved by Jesus Christ and are following some really wacked-out philosophies, how are we so different on the essentials?

Answer 9

Many Protestants hold to sola scriptura, Bible only. They feel if it not in the Bible, it is not part of their faith. We Catholics put equal importance on scripture and apostolic teaching. The Bible is part of Catholicism, but there is more to our faith than only what is in the Bible.

I am sure the Protestants will not agree, but there are two (that I am aware of) Bible passages which refute sola scriptura:

1) John 20:30 - Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

2) 2 Thessalonians 1:1 and then 2:14 through 15 - 1Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings[c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

Ask your Protestant friends where sola scriptura is in the Bible.

For Catholic info on the Assumption click here:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02006b.htm

Answer 10

This might help.

http://www.wf-f.org/Assumption.html

Now, as it mentions, the teaching of Mary's Assumption is rather new but as the artical and a priest I knew pointed out, "Why would God allow Mary, who was most devoted to him and sinless, waste away in an earthly manner after death". The bible has others who were as devoted being raised into heaven.

Enoch (father of Noah), and there was mention of the prophet Elijah possibly being assumed into heaven.