Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Mother Mary's Assumption	Christina	Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius Mary, Was Mother Mary assumed when she was alive or dead? What is the church's teachings on this. I think I remember reading somewhere that it is inconclusive as to if she was assumed alive or dead. However, a priest told me that she was alive and that is what the church doctrine is. Thank you for the clarification. Christina
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Christina: Pope Pius XII solemnly defined in "Munificentissimus Deus" on Nov. 1, 1950, that "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." This dogma does not say she was alive or dead when she was assumed. Patristic Fathers defended the Assumption by making two points: 1) Since Mary was sinless and a perpetual virgin, she could not suffer bodily deterioration, the result of original sin, after her death. 2) if Mary bore Christ and played an intimate role as His mother in the redemption of man, then she must likewise share body and soul in His resurrection and glorification. As to whether or not Mary died and then was immediately assumed into heaven or she was assumed just prior to what would have been her death, the Church does not say. What we know for sure, and what we are required to believe, is that when Mary's time on earth was completed she was assumed into heaven body and soul. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Mother Mary's Assumption

Christina

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius Mary,

Was Mother Mary assumed when she was alive or dead? What is the church's teachings on this. I think I remember reading somewhere that it is inconclusive as to if she was assumed alive or dead. However, a priest told me that she was alive and that is what the church doctrine is.

Thank you for the clarification.

Christina

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Christina:

Pope Pius XII solemnly defined in "Munificentissimus Deus" on Nov. 1, 1950, that

"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."

This dogma does not say she was alive or dead when she was assumed.

Patristic Fathers defended the Assumption by making two points:

1) Since Mary was sinless and a perpetual virgin, she could not suffer bodily deterioration, the result of original sin, after her death.

2) if Mary bore Christ and played an intimate role as His mother in the redemption of man, then she must likewise share body and soul in His resurrection and glorification.

As to whether or not Mary died and then was immediately assumed into heaven or she was assumed just prior to what would have been her death, the Church does not say.

What we know for sure, and what we are required to believe, is that when Mary's time on earth was completed she was assumed into heaven body and soul.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum