What is the Assumption of Mary?

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is celebrated every year on August 15.

This Feast commemorates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul to Heaven. The doctrine was formally defined as a dogma of the Catholic Church in 1950 through the apostolic constitution “Munificentissimus Deus.” It declares: “The bodily Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven – which, as regards the heavenly glorification of the virginal body of the august Mother of God, could not be known by any human faculty with its natural forces alone – is truth revealed by God, and therefore all the faithful of the Church must believe it firmly and faithfully” (12).

What is the meaning of the Assumption of the Virgin?

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has its roots in the 5th century, when it was considered the “Birth into Heaven” of Mary or the “Dormition” according to Byzantine tradition. This feast began to be commemorated in the middle of the 7th century in Rome. Still, on November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII officially defined the dogma of the Assumption of Mary into heaven, in body and soul.

In the Apostolic Creed, we profess our faith in the “resurrection of the flesh” and in “eternal life,” representing our ultimate purpose. This promise is already fulfilled in Mary, who is seen as a “sign of consolation and sure hope” (Preface). This unique privilege of Mary is intrinsically related to her role as Mother of Jesus: since death and corruption of the body are consequences of sin, it was not fitting that Mary, free from sin, should suffer such effects. Thus, the mystery of her “Dormition” or “Assumption into Heaven” is celebrated.

The fact that Mary is already in heaven in body and soul fills us with joy and hope, for a creature of God has reached heaven; just as she has, we, as children of God, are called to reach that destiny. Mary’s future united to the glorified body of Jesus, is also the future that awaits those of us who are united to Him in faith and love.

Through texts from the Apocalypse, the Gospel of Luke, and the Magnificat, the liturgy encourages us to pray rather than reflect. The Magnificat, in particular, invites us to understand the mystery of Mary in the light of God’s gratuitous love, which extends throughout the generations, and his special love for the lowly and the poor, perfectly incarnated in Mary, the masterpiece of divine creation. The Assumption of Mary is an eloquent sign that not only the soul but also the body is considered a “very beautiful thing” (Gen 1:31), to the point that our flesh, like Mary’s, will also be glorified in heaven.

This truth does not distract us from our commitments in the present life; on the contrary, it motivates us to continue our journey with more remarkable dedication, guided by the spirit of the Magnificat: full of joy for God’s mercy and with a heart attentive to all our brothers and sisters, especially the weakest and most needy.

Why is it important?

For Catholics, this day has a special spiritual significance, because:

Honor Mary’s role: her assumption into heaven is a witness to her special relationship with her Son and her role in the salvation of souls as Christ’s mediator.

2. It is connected with the resurrection of ChristJust as Christ conquered sin and death, so did Mary through the grace of God. This connection reinforces the hope of resurrection and eternal life for all believers.

3. It affirms that Mary is the best intercessor: her assumption confirms her existence in heaven and her ability to intercede for the faithful. This gives us comfort in knowing that we have a loving maternal figure to turn to in times of need.

As the Feast of the Assumption approaches, Catholics around the world gather to celebrate this festive day through special Masses, processions, and prayers. It is a time of joy and reflection, an opportunity to deepen our understanding of Mary’s role in faith and contemplate the promise of eternal life.