According to the Church teaching, the souls are immortal, so death, by necessity, refers only to the body. We don't read of angels dying! But there is more to this, of course, and the best way to describe it is "play on words."
What is the thinking on what physically happened to her body when it was assumed?
I believe, the Church teaches that she sits next to her Son's feet. Again, this is one of those things we accept "on faith." My understanding is that because she never sinned, her body was immaculate (although her "nature" was mortal!), she will not be judged at the End of Times and was therefore taken to heaven as the saved will be at the second Coming.
Was she put back into it and still "using" it?
I would imagine so. Why else would we have them? Heaven is, I think, outside of the created world, so anything is possible.
I don't understand the purpose for her assumption.
The assumption is what will happen to the saved when they receive their new bodies at the End Of Times. Her body is immauclate, so she doesn't need one. Maybe those hwo are more convinced then I could produce some patristic comments on the assumption, if there are any.
"Maybe those hwo are more convinced then I could produce some patristic comments on the assumption, if there are any."
The only Fathers to directly address the Assumption were +John of Damascus and +Andrew of Crete, othet than of course, chanting the Apolytikia, Troparia and Kontakia of the Feast of the Dormition.
I suppose I would say that SINCE the soul is immortal, that physical death is irrelevant. Real death is eternal separation from God. It seems to me that Jesus spoke exclusively in these terms.
My understanding is that because she never sinned, her body was immaculate (although her "nature" was mortal!), she will not be judged at the End of Times and was therefore taken to heaven as the saved will be at the second Coming.
I don't know why she would escape Judgment. Even within the construct, she could simply be adjudicated innocent on all counts. This line would also seem problematic with all the scripture on the Judgment (i.e., no exceptions).