An Apologetical Explanation of the

Assumption of Mary

How did the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary develop?

A great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars…. She brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.  (Rev 12:1-5)

The dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into Heavy body and soul is implicit in Scripture and has been held by the Church since the early centuries of Christianity.  This dogma was solemnly defined in 1950 by Pope Piux XII through the constitution Munificentissimus Deus.

As the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary has a unique relationship with God that surpasses all creatures who had come before or who would follow.  By her cooperation with God’s will, salvation was brought into the world through Jesus Christ.  (Cf. CCC 494, 511)

The Assumption into Heaven of those especially close to God is not without precedent in the Old Testament: Enoch (cf. Heb 11:5) and Elijah (cf. 2 Kgs 2:11) each are spoken of as having been taken by God without having died.  It is fitting that Christ would bring his own Mother to Heaven.

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. (Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15; cf. CCC 974)

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a logical extension of her Immaculate Conception: since she was preserved from any stain of Original Sin, she did not suffer its consequences of concupiscence and death.

The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all guilt of original sin, on the completion of her earthly sojourn, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords (cf. Rev 19:16) and the conqueror of sin and death. (LG 59; cf. CCC 2853)

In her theology and her liturgy, the Church interprets the figure in the Book of Revelation of the “woman clothed with the sun” (Rev 12:1) as the Blessed Virgin Mary, who appears in Heaven full of glory.

Since the fourth century the Church has celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15; in the Eastern Churches this feast is known as the Dormition of the Virgin.

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraph 966.

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