Replies

I remain troubled by the Catholic concept that Immaculate Conception meant free from Original Sin, for Mary. She also led a sinless life.

Accepting these two doctrines, what troubles me is why she would die.

Genesis tells us that death was the penalty for the sin of Adam. It is the curse of Adam which all inherit, the legacy of Original Sin.

But if Mary had no original sin, why would she die? Why would she not be immortal, as Adam and Eve were before the Fall?

Asked elsewhere, this might appear a conniving question.

I am asking it in the closed caucus because I have no satisfactory answer whatever for the conundrum.

Do you?
Do any of you?

Is this why it is the "Dormition" of Mary, and not the "Death of Mary"? She went to sleep in Christ, and was Assumed bodily into heaven asleep, not dead?

As I understand it, whether or not Mary died before her Assumption remains an open theological question (at least in Catholic circles). The faithful are free to believe either that she died, or that she simply fell asleep before her Assumption. If I recall correctly, when Pius XII declared the Dogma of the Assumption in 1950, a definitive answer was not given. The encyclical can be found:

http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/P12MUNIF.HTM

I don't really have a solid answer beyond that; however, I am guessing (and it is only that, a guess) that if God willed that she die, then it could be. Christ did not necessarily have to die, because He was without sin as well, yet it was not impossible for Him to die. (Indeed, it was necessary, but that's not the point that I was trying to make.)

Alternately, remember that there have been two others who have been 'assumed' without dying first, Enoch and Elijah (and they weren't even immaculate).

That's the best I can give; I'd assume others might chime in as well.

I am asking it in the closed caucus because I have no satisfactory answer whatever for the conundrum.

I don't see that as a problem in the least. Thank you for being courteous in your asking.