Reflection
Today is Saturday, August 15th. It is The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessed Virgin Mary!
Our relationship with the Mother of God is one that is not fully understood even amongst us Catholics and it is often misunderstood by those outside of the Catholic Church. With that in mind, I beg your forgiveness as I feel called to utilize this reflection as an opportunity to share what I learned in my research on what the Catholic Church teaches about our relationship with the Mother of God and the Dogmas of the Catholic Church regarding Mary and, specifically, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Catholic Churches teaches that Mary is the Mother of God, ever-virgin, and uniquely favored by God. While she is highly honored and prayed to for intercession, the church strictly maintains that she is a human creature and is never worshipped as a divine being.
Believers ask Mary to pray for them to God, viewing her as a powerful heavenly advocate because of her close relationship with Christ. This distinction is important - Catholics do not pray to Mary, they pray through Mary to her beloved son, Jesus, the Son of God.
It is true that the Catholic church gives Mary a special level of high honor above all other saints. However, that highest honor is distinct from latria, which is the worship due to God alone.
There are four Core Dogmas about Mary. They are as follows:
Mary is the Mother of God: Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is fully God and fully human, making her truly the Mother of the divine person of Christ;
Mary is the Immaculate Conception: God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin from the very moment of her own conception in her mother's womb;
Mary experienced Perpetual Virginity: Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus throughout her entire life;
Mary was Assumed into heaven: At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken up body and soul directly into heaven.
Per the Vatican website, the dogma of the Assumption, defining that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven, was formally proclaimed by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
That being said, the Church has celebrated the feast of Mary's passing since at least the 4th century, demonstrating a long-standing tradition. Ancient manuscripts disseminated accounts of the Apostles witnessing Mary's assumption.
Early church fathers and theologians spoke of the fittingness of Mary's body not undergoing corruption. The belief is linked to Mary's status as the Mother of God and the "New Eve," arguing that since she was preserved from original sin, through her Immaculate Conception, Mary was fittingly spared from bodily decay. Historically, the absence of known bodily relics of Mary in the early Church contributed to the belief that her body was not on earth.
Unlike the ascension of Jesus, Mary was "assumed" or taken up by God, rather than ascending by her own power. While Roman Catholics believe she was taken at the end of her life (leaving the question of her death open), Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions refer to it as the "Dormition" (falling asleep) holding she experienced a natural death before her bodily resurrection and assumption.
Mary's bodily assumption is a special participation in her Son's Resurrection, highlighting her role as the "new Eve" who, unlike the first Eve, brings life and shares in the victory over sin and death.
The Assumption is seen as a "first fruit" or anticipation of the resurrection of all Christians, proving that death is not the end, but a transition to glory.
Mary is believed to be in heaven with a glorified body, acting as an advocate and motherly figure who intercedes for humanity.
With all of this in mind, then with great joy, let us proclaim today, and always, – “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”. Amen.