The Assumption of Mary. What is it? What does it mean to us?

The Assumption of Mary:

The Assumption of Mary is a Catholic doctrine that Mary was taken up into Heaven at the end of her life with her body with her by Jesus. As Pope Pius XII said:

"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." (Munificentissimus Deus 1950)

The Assumption was "Infallibly" proclaimed and defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950, which means it is a doctrine that Catholics must hold to be true. The Church claims this dogma to be "Divinely" revealed and a part of the deposit of faith the Church protects. 

A question must be asked now... Where does this dogma come from? Did it originate in 1950 with the Pope?

Before we begin with Mary's Assumption I want to show some references to saints being assumed into Heaven in Sacred Scripture.

In Genesis 5:24 Enoch was assumed into Heaven

 "Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him." (NAB)

In 2 Kings 2:11 Elijah was assumed

"As they walked on still conversing, a fiery chariot and fiery horses came between the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (NAB)

So we can see that saints can be assumed up into Heaven if God wills it, but we still haven't found why Jesus willed to assume Mary. 

An objection could be made that we do not see Mary's Assumption in the New Testament, but I do not think that is true. I think we can see proof of it by looking at some of the allegory used in Revelation.

In Revelation 11 and 12 we see a "woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant.... and she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter." This is also seen within the temple along with the "ark of his covenant".

Traditionally, Catholics see Mary as the "new" Ark of the Covenant as the "old" Ark carried God's presence on Earth in it. As Mary carried God in her womb we see her as the "new" Ark.

Now this passage in Revelation doesn't prove the assumption, but just that Mary is in Heaven. However, now lets look at a verse in Psalm 132:8 (NAB)

"Arise, Lord, come to your resting place, you and your mighty ark."

We can see further evidence for why Jesus would and did assume His mother up into Heaven.

However, the Catholic Church does not just read Scripture and then form her beliefs upon that reading. The Church was handed down the "Deposit of Faith" in divine revelation. Both in Sacred Tradition and Scripture. They both "...flow from the same divine wellspring" (Dei Verbum). This means that all doctrines of faith the Church holds are either handed down to her. 

Mary's Assumption was handed on to the faithful via oral tradition (via preaching) and protected from being morphed into an error. 

We see St. Paul the Apostle warning the young Church against abandoning tradition or going against it. 

"Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours." (2 Thessalonians 2:15 NAB)

"We instruct you, brothers, in the name or our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6 NAB)

We can see that St. Paul was talking about a tradition or preaching that occurred before he wrote this letter in Sacred Scripture. Catholics believe that part of this tradition that was taught to the young Church (not just in this specific town and letter) is that Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven. 

How does this affect our lives today?

All Christians who Jesus judges acceptable on the Last Day shall enter Heaven with their glorified body and soul, and we see a foretaste of this with our Mother Mary. She reminds us that Earth is not our home, we are made for a far-greater place and purpose than we always remember. We should always try to get as close as we can to Jesus, as Mary was, so that we may come to love Him as she did. We come to Jesus in prayer and through the Sacraments... particularly through the Most Holy Eucharist. 

So make sure you go to Mass today. Make sure you pray today. Make sure you live today for Christ.

I end with a prayer... 

"Lord, draw us ever closer to your Sacred Heart. Allow us to share in your glory in Heaven and help us to live our lives as we ought for your greater glory on Earth. Mary Mother of God, pray for us that we may share with you in the vision of God."

P.S. 

For all my fellow Jesuit groupies, it was on this day 479 years ago the first Jesuits (St. Ignatius, St. Francis Xavier, and Blessed Peter Faber) pronounced their vows or Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. Likewise, today a lot of Jesuits are pronouncing vows as well. Remember to keep the Jesuits in your prayers! 

AMDG