Mary's Assumption

Christianity has believed in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary since the first centuries of its history and the official feast of the Assumption probably dates back to as early as the sixth century.

As Bishop Dubost (from France) writes in his book called Marie (Ed. Mame, Paris 2002): "The feast of the Assumption originated in Jerusalem, but it is hard to know when. The origin of the feast may come from the consecration of a church dedicated to Mary, by Bishop Juvenal, in Kathisma (a stopping place where Mary may have rested between Nazareth and Bethlehem). However, it most likely came from the consecration of another church in Gethsemani, near Jerusalem, in the 6th century. At any rate, the feast was extended to the whole Empire by the Emperor Mauricius (582-602) under the name of "The Dormition of the Virgin Mary." It has always been celebrated on August 15. The liturgical year in the Eastern church, which begins on September 1, actually begins with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin and closes with her entry into glory on August 15."

The dogma of the Assumption was proclaimed by Pius XII in 1950

"Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium §59)

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a unique participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians...

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Marie de Nazareth Team