11. What is the meaning of the doctrine of the Assumption?
With regard to Mary's assumption: The official doctrine of the Church does
not decide the issue of whether Mary died or not. Most theologians today
seem to feel that she died, as her son Jesus did. The Church does teach
that by the Assumption Mary shares bodily in the Resurrection and
experiences complete union with Jesus. I understand the doctrine to mean
that Jesus caused her physical body, after death, to be transformed into
the spiritual body we will all have in Heaven (see 1 Cor 15:42-44). Our
physical body is subject to corruption, whereas Mary's physical body was
not subject to corruption. Why? Because Mary's body was the "ark" which
bore the body of Jesus for nine months. Because Mary was Jesus' Mother,
and as such, would have been welcomed into Heaven by her Son with all the
grace and power Jesus could have shared with His beloved Mother. (Would we
do any less for our own mother if we were in Jesus' place?)
Another way of looking at the Assumption is to compare it with the
phenomenon described in 1 Thess 4:16-17. Some teachers and theologians
describe Mary's Assumption in these very terms. They say that Mary has
already experienced fully what we will experience fully only at the end of
time.
The Assumption seems to have been taken for granted by Catholics as far
back as the historical records go. We Catholics believe that our doctrines
must be in harmony with the Bible, but not necessarily expressed explicitly
in the Bible. We believe that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, can
come to the knowledge of truths that are related to our spiritual benefit.
The Assumption is one of these truths.
We invite your questions on Mary.
Send them to Father at the Association.
The questions and responses 1-20 come from Catholic Home Study Service, Rev. Oscar
Lukefahr, C.M., Director. If you would like to enroll in a
free course of instruction in the Catholic faith, check out the
Catholic Home Study Service.
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