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[[Image:Murillo Inmaculada de El Escorial.jpg|thumb|right|'''''Inmaculada de "El Escorial"''''' by [[Bartolome Murillo]]]]The '''Assumption of Mary''' is the [[dogma]] in the [[Catholic Church]] that [[Mary]] was "assumed" or taken up into [[Heaven]] both [[soul]] and [[body]], but that she did not "ascend" into Heaven. Thus, in Catholic belief, there is a fundamental distinction: [[Jesus]] ''rose'' bodily into Heaven, whereas Mary was ''taken'', bodily, to Heaven by God. The first is therefore termed an "Ascension" and the second an "Assumption."

[[File:The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.jpg|thumb|right|The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary]]The '''Assumption of Mary''' is the [[dogma]] in the [[Catholic Church]] that [[Mary]] was "assumed" or taken up into [[Heaven]] both [[soul]] and [[body]], but that she did not "ascend" into Heaven. Thus, in Catholic belief, there is a fundamental distinction: [[Jesus]] ''rose'' bodily into Heaven, whereas Mary was ''taken'', bodily, to Heaven by God. The first is therefore termed an "Ascension" and the second an "Assumption."

The [[Old Testament]] figures Enoch and Elijah were taken up into Heaven as well.<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/5-24.htm Genesis 5:24] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_kings/2-11.htm 2 Kings 2:11]</ref>  

The [[Old Testament]] figures Enoch and Elijah were taken up into Heaven as well.<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/genesis/5-24.htm Genesis 5:24] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_kings/2-11.htm 2 Kings 2:11]</ref>  

In 1950, [[Pope Pius XII]] formally declared the Assumption of Mary to be dogma in an [[Encyclical|Apostolic Constitution: ''Munificentissimus Deus'']]. Though only declared a dogma in modern times, the belief has existed in the Catholic Church for hundreds of years. The dogmatic Apostolic Constitution definitively closed all debate regarding the doctrine, finally declaring it to be an official certainty beyond all possible doubting by the Christian faithful, all uncertainty of speculative theological debate and doubt about it henceforth illicit and heretical. The Assumption of Mary is celebrated as the [[Feast of the Assumption]] on August 15.

In 1950, [[Pope Pius XII]] formally declared the Assumption of Mary to be dogma in an [[Encyclical|Apostolic Constitution: ''Munificentissimus Deus'']]. Though only declared a dogma in modern times, the belief has existed in the Catholic Church for hundreds of years. The dogmatic Apostolic Constitution definitively closed henceforth all debate regarding the doctrine, finally declaring it to be an official certainty beyond all possible doubting by the Christian faithful, all uncertainty of speculative theological debate and doubt about it henceforth illicit and heretical. The Assumption of Mary is celebrated as the [[Feast of the Assumption]] on August 15.

The Assumption of Mary is also a teaching in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] (Called the "Dormition" in that Church) and several other churches, but it is not part of those denominations' dogma.

The Assumption of Mary is also a teaching in the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] (Called the "Dormition" in that Church) and several other churches, but it is not part of those denominations' dogma.

==Tradition and probable date==

==Tradition and probable date==

Sometime during A.D. 40 to 44, according to a tradition preserved in the east and the west, Mary the mother of Jesus completed the course of her life on earth, and fell asleep; and she was laid in a tomb by John.<ref>Reading between Acts 11:30 and Acts 12:1, together with an apparent [[allusion]] in [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/15-51.htm 1 Corinthians 15:51 "Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed"]. Compare [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/8-30.htm Romans 8:30].</ref> Then according to ancient tradition, the Lord Jesus took her, body and soul, out of the tomb and assumed her into heaven. Her body has never been found. Two tombs are claimed''':''' one in Jerusalem, at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Church of the Assumption''';''' and one in Ephesus, the final home of John the Apostle, a claim which has been disputed.<ref>[https://www.seetheholyland.net/tomb-of-mary/ Tomb of Mary - See the Holy Land (seetheholyland.net)]</ref>

Sometime during A.D. 40 to 48, according to a tradition preserved in the east and the west, Mary the mother of Jesus completed the course of her life on earth, and fell asleep; and she was laid in a tomb by John.<ref>A.D. 40-44, reading between Acts 11:30 and Acts 12:1, together with an apparent [[allusion]] in [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/15-51.htm 1 Corinthians 15:51 "Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed"]. Compare [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/8-30.htm Romans 8:30].</ref> Then according to ancient tradition, the Lord Jesus took her, body and soul, out of the tomb and assumed her into heaven. Her body has never been found. Two tombs are claimed''':''' one in Jerusalem, at the foot of the Mount of Olives in the Church of the Assumption''';''' and one in Ephesus, the final home of John the Apostle, a claim which has been disputed.<ref>[https://www.seetheholyland.net/tomb-of-mary/ Tomb of Mary - See the Holy Land (seetheholyland.net)]</ref>

Since the 3rd century (the 200's) [[Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]] has observed this event as the Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.<ref>See [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dormition Dormition (orthodoxwiki.org)] and [http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/aofmary.htm Assumption (ewtn.com)]</ref>  

Since the 3rd century (the 200's) [[Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]] has observed this event as the Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.<ref>See [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dormition Dormition (orthodoxwiki.org)] and [http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/aofmary.htm Assumption (ewtn.com)]</ref>  

==External links==

==External links==

[https://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XII, ''MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS'', Defining the Dogma of the Assumption, November 1, 1950 (vatican.va)] — Full Text

[https://w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XII, ''MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS'', Defining the Dogma of the Assumption, November 1, 1950 (vatican.va)] — Full Text

[https://margefenelon.com/6448/why-are-there-no-first-class-relics-of-mary/ Why Are There No First Class Relics of Mary? published by Marge Fenelon (margefenelon.com)]

[https://margefenelon.com/6448/why-are-there-no-first-class-relics-of-mary/ Why Are There No First Class Relics of Mary? published by Marge Fenelon (margefenelon.com)]

[https://www.beautysoancient.com/the-assumption-of-mary/ The Assumption of Mary, Mother of God (beautysoancient.com)]

[https://www.beautysoancient.com/the-assumption-of-mary/ The Assumption of Mary, Mother of God (beautysoancient.com)]

[https://fathermarknichols.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/the-death-and-burial-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/ The Death and Burial of the Blessed Virgin Mary = Father Mark Nichols (fathermarknichols.wordpress.com)]

[https://fathermarknichols.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/the-death-and-burial-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/ The Death and Burial of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Father Mark Nichols (fathermarknichols.wordpress.com)]

[https://thecatholicfaith.blogspot.com/2013/10/thetransition-of-blessed-virgin-mary.html The Transition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Robert Siscoe (thecatholicfaith.blogspot.com)]

[https://thecatholicfaith.blogspot.com/2013/10/thetransition-of-blessed-virgin-mary.html The Transition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, By Robert J. Siscoe (''Published in the August 2012 issue of'' Catholic Family News) (thecatholicfaith.blogspot.com)]

[https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/relics-of-our-lady.html Feast of the Relics of Our Lady (roman-catholic-saints.com)]

[https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/relics-of-our-lady.html Feast of the Relics of Our Lady (roman-catholic-saints.com)]

[[Category:Catholic Church]]

[[Category:Catholic Church]]