Posted on 05/03/2007 8:21:02 AM PDT by Clive
Unless you were improperly instructed, you were NEVER taught that the Blessed Mother ascended into Heaven, you would have been taught that she was ASSUMED. The Lord Ascended into Heaven of His own Power; the Holy Mother was assumed through God's Power, not her's.
Nevertheless, teachings on Assumption are silent as to whether the Blessed Virgin was buried and does not even speak to her death (though it is presumed that she did die a natural death). So, there is no conflict between her being buried and assumed, especially when you consider the practice of the day of immediately cleaning the body and then burying it upon death (burial was generally within a couple hours of death).
I saw parts of many extremely questionable offerings on National Geographic Canada about the Bible in general and about Jesus. They were smarmy and snide and suggestive and designed to leave the viewer with nasty nagging questions about Jesus and the Bible. These were, I believe, aired up to and encompassing Easter. I say I saw only parts of these because I kept going back once in a while for a few minutes to see what kind of sleaze they were dredging up - and I was never disappointed!
Not every one believes that she was assumed into heaven. Some of us believe her body was buried.
Count me among those... Also, as a (non-practicing) Catholic-raised person, I have a hard time believing in the resurrection as well.
So were there or were there not tombs with the names Jesus, Mary, Joseph and Matthew?
If someone doesn’t want to know the Truth, they’ll come up with any excuse, no matter how ridiculous.
Indeed.
The Lord’s commandment was to take the Gospel to all the world. He did not say that everyone would believe it. Once heard, it is up to the individual to accept it or not. They are, then, responsible for their own salvation. You did what Christ commanded. His salvation is not your responsiblity, it is the hearers. God gave us all a free will.
On the other hand, I did get to listen to about half of the producers comments at Lunacon 50, in Rye, NY, back in March. It was a nice little story about archeaology . . . but the rest was hogwash, of course. Made a compelling case, but it was a sci-fi convention and most of the attendees for that panel probably hadn’t slept a lot the night before . . . .
The solution to this is obvious- don’t watch or purchase the “documentary.”
Actually, calling this a documentary is like calling The National Enquirer journalism.
Q: A recent ad for travel to Israel includes the phrase, “You can visit Mary’s tomb.” This bothers me. We are taught by the Church that her body was assumed into heaven. Why then would she need a tomb? Is it empty?
A: A structure known as the Tomb of Mary is located just east of the Old City of Jerusalem and literally a stone’s throw from the Church of All Nations (Gethsemani). Everyone agrees that this tomb does not now contain the body or bones of Mary.
In 1950, when he proclaimed the dogma of Mary’s Assumption, Pope Pius XII did not say whether Mary died or not; he said that she was assumed bodily into heaven.
One reason for not making this part of the teaching is that the Eastern Churches (Orthodox and Catholic) speak of the “dormition” (sleeping away) of Mary. According to one tradition, Mary actually died, was buried and soon the faithful found flowers instead of her body in that tomb. According to another tradition, Mary spent her last years in Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey.
Greek Orthodox monks staff the church where the Tomb of Mary is located, but this shrine outside Jerusalem is open to everyone.
I'm Baptist. The explanation I've heard for why Mary was buried in Ephesus is that Jesus gave John charge of his mother at the crucifixion. John, of course, went to Turkey, and Mary went with him. John was ultimately banished to the Isle of Patmos (near Ephesus), where he wrote Revelation.
http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Oct1999/Wiseman.asp#F3
Titanic is off the “must suffer through on valentine’s day” list.
If the “mrs.” wants me and by extension her happy that movie is DOA
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