The doctrine of the Assumption teaches us that at the end of her earthly life, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up into heaven, body and soul. Unlike Jesus, who ascended into heaven by His own power, Mary was “assumed” into heaven by God. This means that she did not go to heaven on her own but was brought there by God’s grace.
The Church has not definitively said whether Mary died before her Assumption, but most believe that she did. What’s important is that after her life on earth, Mary was taken fully into the glory of heaven, a truth defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
This belief is supported by scripture, like in Matthew’s Gospel, where we hear of saints rising from their tombs after Jesus’ resurrection. These stories suggest that others, too, may have been taken into heaven before the end of the world.
A strong indication of Mary’s Assumption is that, from the earliest times, Christians have venerated the remains of saints. For example, the bones of saints Peter and Paul are honoured in Rome. But when it comes to Mary, there are no relics of her body. No city claims to have her bones, suggesting that her body was not left on earth but assumed into heaven.
Reflecting on the Assumption helps us to see how deeply God loved and honoured Mary, and it also reminds us of the hope we have in Christ. Just as Mary was taken into heaven, we too hope to share in the resurrection and eternal life with God. Her Assumption points us to the promise of our own future glory if we remain faithful to God’s will. Mary’s Assumption is a sign of hope and a reminder that our ultimate home is with God in heaven.
Adapted from Catholic Answers
A letter from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem requesting prayers on the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady. It includes a prayer of supplication for peace in the Holy Land, which you may wish to pray in solidarity. We have received and are sharing this letter, forwarded to us by Fr. Stephen Giles, MHM.
