THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

13/8/2016

The commemoration of the death of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Dormition, or falling asleep, as it was known in the East) is known as the Assumption because of the tradition that her body did not decay but that she was raised up, body and soul, into heaven. This tradition was already present in the sixth century; by the beginning of the twentieth century it was widespread; and after consulting the views of bishops all over the world, the Pope formally and infallibly declared the doctrine of the Assumption to be part of the authentic and ancient doctrine of the universal Church.

There is nothing difficult about this dogma. Mary now shares the first fruit of those who have been raised. She is where we want to be. Where else would the Mother of God be if not in heaven with her Son?

It is also perfectly consistent with anglican theology. Thomas Ken, that great anglican divine writes in his hymn "Her virgin eyes, saw God incarnate born" -

"Heaven with transcendent joys her entrance graced,
next to his throne her Son his Mother placed;
and here below, now she's of heaven possessed,
all generations are to call her blessed. "