Thursday, August 14, 2008

The Bodily Ascension of Sinless Mary Into Heaven?



The Roman Catholic Feast of the Assumption is observed on August 15, 2008.

The Catholic Encyclopedia offers the following details regarding this Marian dogma...

This feast has a double object: (1) the happy departure of Mary from this life; (2) the assumption of her body into heaven. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin.

Regarding the day, year, and manner of Our Lady's death, nothing certain is known... Regarding the origin of the feast we are also uncertain.

Today, the belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary is universal in the East and in the West; according to Benedict XIV (De Festis B.V.M., I, viii, 18) it is a probable opinion, which to deny were impious and blasphemous.

By promulgating the Bull Munificentissimus Deus, 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared infallibly that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a dogma of the Catholic Faith. Likewise, the Second Vatican Council taught in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium that "the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to belief in Mary’s share in his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him body and soul in heaven.

Just For Catholics.org tests this dogma with Scripture and finds:

  • Assumption is not explicitly taught in Scripture.
  • Not Taught by the Church Fathers
  • First Taught by Heretics

In practice, Rome teaches doctrines that are not drawn from the deposit of faith. We have seen that the Assumption is neither found in Scripture nor in the early church tradition. Certainly, if this doctrine were transmitted by the apostles to the bishops of the early church, we would expect to find at least some references to it in the voluminous writings of the Fathers. But they are conspicuously silent about this subject.

If you are a Catholic, ask yourself whether your implicit trust in the Roman magisterium is warranted. The magisterium claims to explain the Word of God, but at least in this case, it has gone far beyond it's stated role. It is inventing novel doctrines beyond the Word of God. Be careful! You may feel convinced that your faith is built on a solid rock, when in fact, you are standing on sinking sand.

Visit What Every Catholic Should Know, and Eternal Productions for more on Roman Catholicism witnessing resources.

See more related articles and videos regarding the Roman Catholicism's Queen of Heaven.

4 comments:

  1. Hello,

    Hope you don’t mind an accurate correction to the title of your post. Jesus Christ – “Ascended into Heaven” - (active verb) The Roman Catholic church celebrates the “Assumption of Mary” today. (assumption being a passive verb)

    I also hope you could help clarify a few questions on the topic. Is it possible that an account of Mary's Assumption is not in the bible because she was still walking around while the New Testament was being written?

    While Luke's gospel was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, is it possible that he had a relationship with Mary the mother of Jesus? Is it possible/probable that Mary was the source for the first chapter of Luke's gospel?

    Does the almighty and powerful sovereign God have the power to assume a body into heaven if he chooses to do so?

    Does Watcher’s Lamp have some proof of where the bodily remains of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ are buried?

    Thank you for the time,

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  2. Brett

    I was born and raised, educated under nuns and priests for 12 years...I am quite familiar with the Marian dogma.

    Vatican II confirmed the doctrine of the bodily, vertical ascending of Mary

    "Second Vatican Council taught in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium that "the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory..."

    By the description in the Catholic encyclopedia, this event is more than an assumption of fact, it is more the substance of legend.

    As for what God is able to do, certainly amything is possible.

    However, adding anything (or deleting or changing) is forbidden. Revelation 22:18-19.

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  3. Hmmm...

    Since John was left in charge of Mary by our Lord, and John lived to be quite old and most certainly died after Mary died (or supposedly was assumed), he surely had ample opportunity to witness this presumably extraordinary event in Scripture. But he didn't. I think we can conclude that it didn't happen. After all, the Bible tends to make note of other people that get to heaven without dying (Gen 6:24; 2 Ki 2:11-12).

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