The Assumption of Mary
The Assumption of Mary is a doctrine of the Catholic and the Eastern orthodox Churches. It teaches that the mother of Jesus, was bodily assumed into heaven. “Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” 508 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 966
Origin
The teaching of the Assumption of Mary originated in the sixth century in the Byzantine Empire. An annual holiday honoring Mary progressively grew into a memorial of her death, called the Feast of Dormition. As the keeping of this feast spread to the West, a prominence was given to Mary’s resurrection and the glorification of her body and soul. Then, the name of the holiday was changed to the Assumption. This day was made an official dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The Assumption is kept on August 15 which is over 1,900 years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and the start of the church.
“The Blessed Virgin Mary’s bodily Assumption into heaven –which surely no faculty of the human mind could know by its own natural powers, as far as the heavenly glorification of the virginal body of the loving Mother of God is concerned–is a truth that has been revealed by God and consequently something that must be firmly and faithfully believed by all children of the Church.” Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII, 1876—1958.
There are different views to the assumption. Certain Roman Catholics teach that Mary died and was then assumed bodily into heaven. Others advocate that she did not die. However, it is agreed that she was assumed into heaven. The Catholic Church admits that they don’t know the manner of her death. “Regarding the day, year, and manner of Our Lady’s death, nothing certain is known.” Catholic Encyclopedia, “Feast of the Assumption”
Un-Biblical Doctrine
While the scriptures teach that God “assumed” Enoch and Elijah into heaven (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11), there is no biblical support for the Assumption of Mary. There is no mention whatsoever of Mary or her death after Acts chapter 1. In addition, the Bible tells us that Jesus asked John to take care of Mary His mother when He was at the cross (John 19:26). And we also know that John was the last disciple to die and that he wrote 4 books in the Bible. But this apostle didn’t mention any thing about Mary nor her death in his writings. If Mary was assumed to heaven, John would have without a doubt mentioned this miraculous fact.
The doctrine of the assumption is not supported by the Bible and the Catholic Church admits that: “the New Testament does not explicitly affirm Mary’s Assumption,” (General Audience, # 3, Pope John Paul II)
The Roman Catholic Church places the Assumption of Mary as an essential basis for why Mary should be venerated, worshiped, adored, and prayed to. And it exalts Mary to the divine state of Christ as equal. But according to the Bible, Jesus is the only Creator (Colossians 1:16), Redeemer (John 3:16), and Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) before God not Mary. The Assumption of Mary is a man-made teaching. Jesus rebuked people for following their own doctrines and He said, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
Disclaimer:
The contents of this article and website are not intended to be against any individual. There are many priests and faithful believers in Roman Catholicism who serve God to the best of their knowledge. They are seen by God as His children. Thus, the information contained herein is directed only towards the Roman Catholic religio-political system which has reigned in varying degrees of power for nearly two millennia. This system has established an increasing number of doctrines and statements that directly go against the Bible.
It is our purpose to lay the clear Word of God before you, the truth-seeking reader, to decide for yourself what is truth and what is error. Therefore, if you find anything here contrary to the Bible, do not accept it. However, if you desire to seek for Truth as for hidden treasure, and find herein something of that quality and feel that the Holy Spirit is revealing Truth to you, please make all haste to accept it.
