Unlike the other saints who’s bodies will not join their souls in Heaven until the Second Coming of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s body was immediately taken up into Heaven along with her soul at the end of her existence on Earth.
The Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches refer to this event as the Dormition of Mary or the Dormition of the Virgin.
Mary’s Assumption into Heaven was not by her own power, but by the power of God. This was different from Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven which happened by his own divine power
Because Mary’s body is in Heaven, no church or other holy place claims to possess it, and no grave or tomb exists that contains her remains.
Although the Catholic Church has always believed and taught that the Immaculate Mother of God was assumed into Heaven, it was not infallibly defined as a dogma of the Church until 1950 by Pope Pius XII.
Catholics meditate on the Virgin Mary’s Assumption into Heaven as the fourth Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary.
The Church celebrates The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 each year, a holy day of obligation for Catholics.
When the fullness of Mary’s time was completed:
God remembers his faithful:
Then God’s temple in Heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm. And a great portent appeared in Heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Revelation 11:19-12:1
Mary’s body and soul were taken up into Heaven:
Jesus will take all of those He loves into Heaven:
Mary’s Assumption into Heaven is proof of eternal life for humans:
“Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians: In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death. . . . she is our Mother in the order of grace.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 966
Mary is an exception:
The new Eve experiences now what we hope to experience later:
The Bible supports the traditional belief in the Assumption of Mary:
But now let us ask ourselves: how does the Assumption of Mary help our journey? The first answer is: in the Assumption we see that in God there is room for man, God Himself is the house with many rooms of which Jesus speaks; God is man’s home, in God there is God’s space. And Mary, by uniting herself, united to God, does not distance herself from us. She does not go to an unknown galaxy, but whoever approaches God comes closer, for God is close to us all; and Mary, united to God, shares in the presence of God, is so close to us, to each one of us.
Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, 15 August 2012
Praying in the very place that Mary was assumed into Heaven:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Not just another denomination:
Share this page with friends and family to start a conversation about your faith.
Don’t miss a post. Learn more about the Catholic Church and strengthen your Catholic faith.
Find more Fiercely Catholic video issues here.
Subscribe here.
