This official declaration in 1950 was the culmination of long held beliefs and practices since the early Christian communities. The first trace of belief in the Virgin's Assumption can be found in the apocryphal accounts entitled Transitus Mariae [Latin, “The Crossing Over of Mary”], whose origin dates to the second and third centuries. Moreover, St. John Damascene, a Church Father often referred to as the Doctor of the Assumption due to his writings on the Assumption of Mary, writes that the Virgin’s empty tomb was attested to at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. In England, the belief in the assumption of Mary has been depicted already in the pre-reformation art in the York Minster. And in the 9th century, Pope Saint Leo IV confirmed the feast of the Assumption though it had already been celebrated for centuries.
We see, thus, that way back in the period of the Church Fathers, just after the time in which the books of the bible were written, the belief in the assumption had strong support from important church people then. It may even be said that the writers of the gospels had an awareness of the belief, but simply didn’t express it in their writings explicitly. The official definition of the Assumption certainly complements and does not contradict what is written in the Scriptures.
In the gospel reading (Lk 1:39-56) for instance, we see the beginnings of how Mary is involved in the history of salvation. Right after the story of the annunciation follows this account of the visitation. In these wonderful narratives and in Mary’s Canticle, we see how “God has done great things” for Mary. In the annunciation, Mary is greeted by the angel of God as “full of grace,” and received the assurance “The Lord is with you.” In the visitation, Mary is said to be the “Mother of my Lord” and “Blessed among women.” In Mary’s Magnificat, she exults in God’s goodness to her and says “All generations will call me blessed!” and continues to testify, “The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”
All these great things that the Scripture says God has done to Mary support and jibe with the belief that Mary, who was chosen by God to be the Immaculate mother of his Son, in the end of the course of her life, was assumed into heaven by God. We should note that the assumption of our Lady is not by her own powers and merits but by God’s power and gracious will.
Celebrating this Solemnity fortifies our confidence that God, the Almighty, in His goodness and wisdom, does great things for us his beloved children as He has shown to our Mother Mary.
The second reading (1 Cor 15:20-27), furthermore, allows us to see the mystery of Mary’s Assumption in the light of Christ’s victory over death. St. Paul talks about Christ as the first fruit of the resurrection. Through his resurrection, all things, which were once dead because of Adam, shall be brought to life in Christ. Here, Paul acknowledges Christ as a powerful ruler who subjects all his enemies (sin and evil) and death under his feet. It is our recognition of this power of Christ that strengthens our conviction that Mary, Christ’s own mother, who is immaculately conceived and full of grace, is assumed to heaven body and soul. Mary is the first fruit of Christ’s salvific act.
Our journey is a journey in hope. Amid seeming insurmountable difficulties we face each day, we find strength to move on as we are assured by pledges of future glory, especially that of Jesus’ own resurrection. Celebrating this Feast of the Assumption brings to our consciousness a further pledge of our resurrection. None of the early Christian communities claimed to have the body of Mary. Mary is in glory, body and soul, for Jesus has already shared with her what we hope he will share with us.
We discern here, therefore, the relevance of this dogma to our everyday lives. Pope Benedict XVI expressed it beautifully in his general audience on August 16, 2016:
“By contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we understand that the earth is not the definitive homeland for us either, and that if we live with our gaze fixed on eternal goods we will one day share in this same glory and the earth will become more beautiful.”
“Consequently, we must not lose our serenity and peace even amid the thousands of daily difficulties. The luminous sign of Our Lady taken up into Heaven shines out even more brightly when sad shadows of suffering and violence seem to loom on the horizon.”
As we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, we can be confident of this: From on high, Mary follows our footsteps with gentle concern, dispels the gloom in moments of darkness and distress, and reassures us with her motherly hand.
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