Solemnity of the Assumption

CatholicExchange.com ^ | 08-15-06 | Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

[Salvation]

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

Other Articles by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

Solemnity of the Assumption

08/15/06

		I once asked a college theology class if anyone could explain the doctrine of the Assumption. A student replied, “Yeah, that’s the teaching whereby the Catholic Church ‘assumes’ that Mary is in heaven.”
In This Article... Greatest of Marian Feasts Something Unique about Mary No Decay, No Delay

Greatest of Marian Feasts

There’s a bit more to it than that. The Church does not just “assume” that any canonized saint in is in heaven. Rather, it authoritatively declares that a person is in glory and should therefore be honored in liturgy and imitated in life. Our church calendar is filled with saints’ days.

But why a particular day for each saint? The first evidence for this goes back to 155 AD, to a bishop named Polycarp. The account of his martyrdom notes that after his execution, the faithful collected his bones, more precious than gold, and put them in a place of honor where every year they gathered to celebrate the anniversary of his death as a sort of “birthday” into eternal life. Celebrating Mass in the catacombs over the relics of the martyrs led to the practice of putting relics in the main altar of every church. Eventually saints who did not die a martyr’s death were also commemorated on their heavenly “birthday” and their relics were accorded great honor.

From very early times, August 15 has been observed as the “birthday” of our Blessed Lady. On this greatest of all Marian feasts we celebrate the greatest moment of her life — being permanently reunited with her son and sharing His glory.

Something Unique about Mary

All the saints experience the “beatific vision” upon their entry into heaven, and we celebrate this on every saint’s day. But there is something unique about Mary’s day. The Catholic Church teaches authoritatively that it is not just Mary’s soul that was admitted to God’s glory, but that at the end of her earthly life, Mary’s body as well as her soul was assumed into heaven by the loving power of God.

There is no eyewitness account of this actual event recorded in the Bible. Come to think of it, though, no one witnessed the actual resurrection of Jesus, either. The evidence was an empty tomb and eyewitness reports that the Risen Lord had appeared to them.

Interesting parallel here. There is a tomb at the foot of the Mount of Olives where ancient tradition says that Mary's body was placed. But there is nothing inside. There are no relics, as with other saints. And credible apparitions of Mary, though not recorded in the New Testament, have been recorded from the 3rd century till today.

Mary is not equal to Christ, of course. Jesus, though possessing a complete human nature, is the Eternal Word made flesh. Mary is only a creature.

But she is a unique creature, the highest of all creatures. This is not just because she was born without the handicap of original sin. Eve and Adam were born free of sin as well, but it did not stop them from sinning as soon as they had the chance. Mary instead chose, with the help of God’s grace, to preserve her God-given purity throughout the whole of her life.

No Decay, No Delay

The bodily corruption of death was not God’s original plan. It came into the world through sin, as St. Paul says “the sting of death is sin” (I Cor 15:56). So it is fitting that she who knew no sin should know no decay and no delay in enjoying the full fruits of her son’s work. It is fitting that she who stood by Christ under the Cross should stand by Him bodily at the right hand of the Father. “The Queen stands at your right hand, in gold of Ophir” (Ps 45). Enoch and Elijah, who the Old Testament says were assumed into heaven, were surely great in God’s eyes. But they do not begin to compare with the immaculate mother of His Son.

We too, one day, insofar as we accept God’s grace, will stand at His right hand. But Paul says that “all will come to life again, but each one in proper order” (I Cor 15:23). The Redeemer, of course, blazes the resurrection trail. But who is to be first among His disciples? The one who is last is first: the Lord’s humble handmaid who did no more than say yes, and kept saying yes, and whose soul magnified not herself, but the Lord.


Dr. D'Ambrosio studied under Avery Cardinal Dulles for his Ph.D. in historical theology and taught for many years at the University of Dallas. He now directs www.crossroadsinitiative.com, which offers Catholic resources for RCIA, adult faith formation, and teens, with a special emphasis on the Year of the Eucharist, the Theology of the Body, the early Church Fathers, and the sacrament of confirmation.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Gee, Paul preached after making tents all day. My father worked the third shift in a factory and took no salary while pastoring a church for 30 years so that the offerings would go towards the ministry. He educated two lawyers, two school teachers, a pastor and a family therapist and served in the Peace Corps and started his last church at age 80. I think I'll stick with the one who has real life experiences as well as a heart for the Lord than a cloistered theologian. Bunyan the tinker and Carey the cobbler come readily to mind.

Wow. What a tremendous family; what a gift from God. You really should write a book. The world needs to hear how healthy, happy, productive, righteous families live and grow and flourish, by the grace of God.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." -- Ecclesiastes 12:13

As that old Romanist himself, William Buckley, once said, the key to life is gratitude. It puts everything into perspective and orients us correctly -- towards Jesus Christ alone.

[Salvation]

So what is your definition.

When you honor Mary, His Mother, are not you also honoring Jesus Christ, true God and true Man?

[Salvation]

**recent debates!)**

My reason for posting it, exactly. And I have it cached away! Hehehehe!

[Salvation]

Very wise words. We will take them into consideration. Please post more often!

[Salvation]

**Not enough sleep this week, I guess!**

Working too hard? LOL! Nevertheless, it was an excellent post.

[Salvation]

**"Ave Maria"**

Bone up on your Latin, friend.

That means, "Hail Mary."

And even the Angel, Gabriel, in Luke, used those words!

[Salvation]

**"Co-Redeemer"**

Catholics do not use this term for Mary. Where are you getting your information?

Another question?

Have you ever asked anyone to pray for you? That is what intercessor, interceding means. The Blessed Mother interceded for the groom and bride at the Wedding of Cana when they ran out of wine. She asked for help.

Her Son, Jesus, gave the help!

[Salvation]

FYI

Luther, Calvin, and Other Early Protestants on the Perpetual Virginity of Mary

The Protestant Reformers on the Virgin Mary

[Salvation]

At your church do you say a CREED?

There is a line in our Creed that we say at Mass and in the Apostles Creed that we say at other times about the resurrection of the dead. Just curious?

[Salvation]

**Q: What is the difference between catholics praying to dead people and hindus praying to dead relatives?**

Your getting off the topic of the Solemnity of the Assumption -- come back to the discussion, please.

[wagglebee]

Maybe it's time to start using the caucus more. Although, there will probably be just a "companion" thread demeaning the Blessed Mother.

[Salvation]

You may be right. Ask me again in about four weeks when I'm totally finished with a Bible Study of Revelation.

We have already talked about the brass feet of Jesus. Brass in the Bible represent steadfastness and standing firm for truth.

[Salvation]

**Guess if Peter was a large rock, Jesus wouldn't have named him Cephas...**

He did. But then maybe you have another translation of the Bible that is different. But those words are in our Bible.

[Salvation]

Beautiful picture, BTW.

[Salvation]

** What is preached? The Word. Not oral traditions. **

This thread is not about Holy Tradition vs. Holy Scripture but rather about the Solemnity of the Assumption.

If you can't discuss the Assumption, please find another thread.

[wagglebee]

Peter may have been your first pope, but there is no pope in the church Jesus started...

So, would you then assert that the Epistles written by Peter SHOULD NOT be included in Canon and are actually heretical? Because if Peter started a "false church," then there should be no credence given to anything he wrote. And if this is what you are saying, then you are saying something that Christians HAVE NEVER BELIEVED.

[ScubieNuc]

You posted...This thread is not about Holy Tradition vs. Holy Scripture but rather about the Solemnity of the Assumption.

If you can't discuss the Assumption, please find another thread.

First off, I was commenting on one persons belief that you need to go to "learned men" to be wise about Scripture. I posted Scripture that that comment made me think of.

Second, this is in the actual article on Assumption that started this thread...

There is no eyewitness account of this actual event recorded in the Bible.

Well if it's taught by the Catholic Church and it's not in the Bible, where does this belief come from? Could it be.....Oral Traditions?

Third, I understand that you don't want your thread hijacked, but the reality is that side topics happen all the time. If they wind up with more responses then your original thread, then I would say that this is the "free hand" of internet interest. Get a more interesting topic and people wont feel the need to go elsewhere with it.

Fourth, as another Catholic once told me, when I was trying to stay on one specific topic with him, "It's like a web, it all is interconnected. You mess with one thread, they all shake." (or something along that line)

I won't comment anymore on your thread, unless someone challenges my Scriptural beliefs on my post.

Good night to you, sir.

[siunevada]

is your father a Saint as defined by the Roman Catholic Church,

I presume you mean a formally canonized saint, one who in life demonstrated heroic virtue in his devotion to God. Mmmm, don't think so, but with God all things are possible, right? In another RC sense, yes I do think he's a saint:

946 After confessing "the holy catholic Church," the Apostles' Creed adds "the communion of saints." In a certain sense this article is a further explanation of the preceding: "What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints?"479 The communion of saints is the Church.
479 Nicetas, Expl. Symb., 10:PL 52:871B.

962 "We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers" (Paul VI, CPG § 30).

do you take your troubles to him on a regular basis,

Troubles? No. I imagine he still expects me to stand on my own two feet.

and do you feel that he will intercede for you?

If it's necessary. Just because I think he's in heaven I don't think his love and concern is diminished. You remember what Jesus said to the Sadducees: "have you not read what was said to you by God,
'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."