Discussion: In a document entitled Munificentissimus Deus (1950), Pope Pius XII solemnly defined the dogma of the Assumption as follows:
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.
In defining the Assumption, Pope Pius XII refers to the other three Marian dogmas: Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, and Mother of God. This illustrates the point that the Assumption is intimately connected to other Marian doctrines, especially Mother of God and Immaculate Conception.
No one obeys the Fourth Commandment of honoring father and mother more fully than Jesus, who is Son of God and Son of Mary. It is fitting that Jesus would uniquely honor His mothertruly the Mother of Godby preserving her from the corruption of the grave and by glorifying her body in heaven before the general resurrection of the body for all the other saints on the last day.
There is even a stronger connection between the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception. The key Scripture verse is Genesis 3:15, in which the Lord says that He will put enmity between Satan and the woman, who is identified as the Mother of the Redeemer. Enmity means total opposition. This verse foreshadows Marys participation in the absolute victory of her seed (Jesus) over Satan.
According to St. Paul, the consequences of Satans influence on the human race are twofold: sin and death (e.g., Romans 5:21; 6:16; 6:23; 8:2; Galatians 6:7-8; Hebrews 2:14-15). Therefore, Mary, who shared in her Sons victory over Satan, would have to be saved from both sin and the corruption of death. Thus, her enmity, or total opposition toward the devil.
By a special favor granted to her by her Lord and Savior, Mary indeed did triumph over sin in her Immaculate Conception. Corruption of the body is a result of original sin. Because Mary was preserved from original sin in her Immaculate Conception, and since she sustained the fullness of grace given to her by God (cf. Lk. 1:28), Our Lady could not have experienced the consequences of original sin. So Mary also triumphed over the bodily corruption of death in her glorious Assumption.
The Assumption in Divine Revelation
CB,
Since you have expressed that the Assumption is not based on the Bible, perhaps this will help you understand the Catholic Church teachings on this subject.
Ave Maria.
>>The key Scripture verse is Genesis 3:15, in which the Lord says that He will put enmity between Satan and the woman,<<
Just who was this "woman" that verse is referring to? The "woman" is Eve not Mary. The offspring is Jesus who will crush Satan's head not Mary as the Catholic bible states. Inserting Mary in that verse is fiction and corruption.
>>Therefore, Mary, who shared in her Sons victory over Satan<<
Not once in all of scripture does it teach of Mary sharing in her Son's victory. To give the glory that belongs to Christ alone is blasphemy.
>>By a special favor granted to her by her Lord and Savior, Mary indeed did triumph over sin in her Immaculate Conception.<<
Once again giving attributes to Mary that belong to Christ alone. Blasphemy!
>> there is Luke 1:28, since her bodily assumption is a natural consequence of her being full of grace.<<
The problem is that Luke 1:28 does NOT say that Mary was "full of grace" as has been shown many times in these threads.
>>Already in the sixth century there were liturgical feasts dedicated to Marys Assumption.<<
Unbelievable!!! Already in 96AD when John wrote Revelation we see that 86% of the churches included error that Christ said would cause Him to reject them. Invoking age of belief surely is no assurance of correctness of belief.
>>Some maintain that she did not die, because her Immaculate Conception freed her from the effects of original sin, including death. Others maintain that it would have been fitting for her to die, so that she could be fully conformed to Christ her Son. Thus she freely accepted death in order to more fully associate herself with her Sons redemption<<
They can't even agree on whether they believe she died or not!!!
The entire beliefs of the Catholic Church regarding Mary are established on corruption of scripture, adding to scripture, and created fiction.
Your church doesn't claim that Mary escaped death. They only stated that her body didn't rot in the grave but was glorified and taken to heaven before anyone else would be. Because Mary DID die, she cannot be sinless because death is the consequence of sin. Jesus' death on the cross was because He took upon Himself the sins of all humanity - past, present and future - and not due to His OWN sin. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) What is firmly rooted in Scripture IS that ALL mankind are sinners and we can never be as righteous as God without the imputed righteousness of Christ given to us by the grace of God through faith. Mary's salvation from her own sin came through the same kind of faith in Jesus Christ as ALL will who receive the gift of everlasting life.