Replies

“If you honestly research the myth surrounding the death of Mary you would indeed find that there were stories of her death and even the burial near Jeruselem, The tomb was then found empty and the assumption was made that she must have been assumed into heaven without corruption. Ironically the length of time between her supposed death and the tomb found empty was three days.”

And why would this be a myth?

“For several centuries in the early Church, there is no mention by the church fathers of the bodily assumption of Mary. Ireneus, Jerome, Augustine, Ambrose and the others church fathers said nothing about it. Epiphanious in 377 A.D. stated that no one knows Mary’s end.”

And why would this change?

“But if some think us mistaken, let them search the Scriptures. They will not find Mary’s death…for her end no-one knows.” (Epiphanius, Panarion, Haer. 78.10-11, 23.

And how is this any different than what we already know, that there is nothing in scripture on her death? This isn’t helping your argument here.

“The first Church author to speak of the bodily ascension of Mary, in association with an apocryphal transitus B.M.V., is St. Gregory of Tours” (Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (Rockford: Tan, 1974), pp. 209-210).”

Actually, the first to speak of it was the then Bishop of Jerusalem who notes at Chalcedon that her tomb was empty. It’s possible given the history of the church in Jerusalem that when she died that they were no longer sure when or where she was buried. This was uncovered after the Church persecutions and many of the older shrines (including the Nativity), were preserved and set aside.

“Still, after declaring the writings of anyone prior who proclaimed the assumption of Mary the RCC ultimately accepted the myth and declared it a doctrine but not until the 1950s was it official.”

Again, this seems to be a pattern of yours. Pius affirmed in the declaration of her assumption and confirmed to be an official doctrine of the church. As before, it reflected the understanding as it has been for centuries previous.

“The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory” (Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII, 1950).

Again, I asked, where does the doctrine state that she died before being carried up into heaven. Where are these witnesses that you are citing to defend your case?