[Lilllabettt]

Here I am, butting in again! Aren't I special.

The Church is silent as to whether or not Mary died. The vast majority of theologians agree she did.

Jesus we know, was without sin, yet suffered death. Mary was THE imitator of Christ, par excellence, and my personal belief is that she imitated Him in dying.

Also, you say: "did Mary ascend?" ONLY Jesus 'ascended' into Heaven. Mary was "Assumed" into the other world. She did not do it of her own power; God had to come and get her. The Church in the east speaks of Mary's "Dormition" (or falling asleep,) and pictures Jesus cradling His Mother in His arms and carrying her up to Heaven with Him.

[ninenot]

Are you certain that 'the vast majority' of theologians think Mary died?

The way I heard it, (Baltimore Cat) she did not die, but at what WOULD have been the natural end of her life, she was assumed into Heaven---thus she did not exactly "die."

Natch, since she appears regularly, she's certainly alive, hale, and hearty, today--in body and soul.

[visually_augmented]

Lilllabettt: "Jesus we know, was without sin, yet suffered death. Mary was THE imitator of Christ, par excellence, and my personal belief is that she imitated Him in dying."

Keep in mind that Christ died only because he took on the sins of His people. If He had not taken on their sins, He would not needed to have suffered death (although this is obviously a hypothetical, since that was a purpose of Christ's). Certainly if Mary died, it would be only for her own sins.