Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Yesterday was the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is so important in the Catholic Church that it is a Holy Day of Obligation when it falls on any day other than Sunday. 

The assumption means that when the Blessed Virgin’s life on earth was finished, she was taken up into Heaven body and soul. Did she actually die? Well, we’re not completely sure. Death as we experience it can be painful and possibly sudden, a consequence of original sin, not to mention our own sins. Since Mary was born without sin (Immaculate Conception) and without the stain of original sin, would she have merited death? Jesus certainly experienced physical death. Why wouldn’t His mother, albeit more peacefully? Some say that the Apostles witnessed her “falling asleep” and assumption, although there is no mention of it in the Bible. In fact, after Jesus from the Cross puts her in the care of St. John, the only other mention of her is being with the Apostles on Pentecost. We rely on Tradition and history to glean any other clues.

Pope Pius XII declared in 1950 the dogma that the Blessed Virgin, “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” This says nothing about how and if she died, just that her life was complete. One thing that I’ve noted is that any time a martyr or a revered Christian died back in the day, others would try to gather everything possible from the person, a lock of hair, a piece of clothing, a fragment of bone. These relics are in Churches throughout the world and are venerated as reminders of what a saintly life will bring us to. No first-class relics of the Blessed Virgin exist, except for some locks of hair, since she was assumed into Heaven body and soul. (Garments are extant.)

Why should we believe in the Assumption? Just because a Pope declared it dogma? Where’s the proof, the evidence? My proof is faith. Faith in Jesus. He loved His mother so much that He provided that she would be born and live a life without sin. Why would He make her see corruption or experience Purgatory? She had nothing to atone for. She was ready for Heaven her whole life. What a welcome that must have been. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.