How can I explain the Assumption of Mary into Heaven?

Question

This is another question I get asked quite a lot about the Catholic Church. I've tried to answer it the best I can but I don't think I'm giving very good answers. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I've *always* assumed that Mary made it to heaven...

Answer 2

Church Music Girl is really the only one so far with a decent answer.

First of all, just because something isn't mentioned explicitly in the Bible doesn't mean it didn't happen. The Bible doesn't mention Jesus' 5th birthday, but I think it's a safe assumption that he turned 5.

Next, take a look a precedent. The Old Testament gives us two instances of bodily assumption into heaven: Enoch and Elijah (Heb. 11:5 and 2 Kgs. 2:11, respectively). Also, in Matthew 27:52-53 we have testimony that some saints left their graves after Christ's resurrection. So the Assumption of Mary would merely be assuming that she was according this honor early.

Third, remember Jesus was born under Jewish law (Gal. 4:4) and was bound to obey the commandment to honor his mother. The Hebrew word for "honor" doesn't imply mere courtesy, but the bestowal of honor and glory. So by preserving Mary's body from corruption, Jesus fulfills the command to honor his mother in a way that only a divine Son could. And after all, if Enoch and Elijah were taken bodily into heaven, could the mother of Christ, born without sin, truly have been any less worthy than they?

Finally, (keeping in mind that Tradition is considered by the Church a legitimate and reliable source for teachings in accordance with 2 Thess 2:15, 2 Tim 2:2, 1 Cor 11:2, etc.) the dogma of the Assumption was taught consistently by early Church Fathers, including Jerome, Origen, Athanasius, Ambrose, Augustine, and Epiphanius. In fact, the first opposition to the Assumption cannot be found until the 8th century with Ambrosius Autpertus.

Answer 3

Do you already know that there is historic documented information that that from a minimum of 300AD Christians believed interior the Dormition and Assumption of Mary into Heaven as witnessed by employing the Apostles?

Answer 4

August 15, 2007 The Assumption of Mary

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.

Comment:

In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) with new meaning. In her glory she proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God her savior. God has done marvels to her and she leads others to recognize God’s holiness. She is the lowly handmaid who deeply reverenced her God and has been raised to the heights. From her position of strength she will help the lowly and the poor find justice on earth and she will challenge the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as a source of happiness.

Quote:
“In the bodily and spiritual glory which she possesses in heaven, the Mother of Jesus continues in this present world as the image and first flowering of the Church as she is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise, Mary shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come (cf. 2 Peter 3:10), as a sign of certain hope and comfort for the pilgrim People of God” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 68).

Answer 5

I tell people that Catholics believe that Mary was taken (assumed) body and soul to heaven. (She's not the first, either - check out Elijah in the Hewbrew Scriptures.) Why do we have this belief/feast? We believe that Mary was not touched by original sin. Mary was also Jesus' mother and had that intimate connection. We view her as the model of of living a life in obedience to God. So for all those reasons, she was spared death and decay.

If you get argumentative people who want to know where it is in the bible, all you can say is that Catholics honor tradition as well as scripture. (Too bad, so sad, just how it is.) And when all is said and done, it's not a central, prime teaching of our faith - we do focus on God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit, after all. ;-)

Answer 6

The Assumption only became official church dogma in 1951, it was long argued whether a person without sin, as Mary was reported to be, could die. To bring together some loose ends in the dogma the Assumption of Mary bodily into heaven was finally made official 1951.
I think it sounds like nonsense however, they seem to make it up as they go along.

Answer 7

When Mary quitted this earth, it is said that she did not die, but fell asleep so as to resemble death. The apostles were all there but one which was Thomas. When he finally arrived, she had already been burried in a tomb. He wanted to take one last look at her, so they opened the tomb; but instead of beholding Our Lady, the place where she had been was empty and there growing in the dark was a beautiful rose bush and a bed of lillies.
Jesus took His most pure mother away from this sinful world to live in heaven with Him for eternity. He did not wish her body to be left upon this earth subject to corruption, when it had never displeased Him. In the old testament, death was the punishment for Adam & Eve's sin. Mary had never sinned,not even original sin (immaculate conception), so why should she suffer death.

Answer 8

I grew up Catholic and the way i understand it, Mary (mother of Jesus) did not actually die but was taken to heaven in her mortal body. I believe this was to indicate that she was exceptionally devoted (and the mother of the Savior)and would not have to go through the death process like everyone else. I believe there were also a few saints who were given this blessing.

Answer 9

The Bible is the final authority on Christianity. It never even hints that Mary was assumed into heaven. That is a Catholic teaching and it is erroneous.

Answer 10

I am not a Catholic, so I don't follow this. But I think there is something in the book of Judith about this.

Answer 11

If it ain't written in the Holy Scriptures............

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the prophecy: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

This is the truth!

Jhn 3:13 And no man (OR WOMAN) hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.


ALL LIARS!