Mary's assertion: The belief that had been long-established was officially proclaimed as a doctrine 75 years back
The dogma of the Assumption, a profound belief in the Catholic faith, was officially declared by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the apostolic constitution "Munificentissimus Deus." This marked the final page in the evolution of a belief that stretches back to the earliest days of Christianity.
The liturgical celebration of the Assumption can be traced back to the East and was introduced at Rome in the mid-seventh century. Pope Sergius I, a Syrian Pope, made the celebration a principal feast and added a procession to its liturgy.
During the medieval period, several influential figures, including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Anthony of Padua, and Albert the Great, promoted the celebration of the Assumption. St. Anthony of Padua, for instance, stated that Mary was assumed to the Heavenly bridal chamber. Albert the Great, meanwhile, wrote that Mary was assumed body and soul beyond the choirs of Angels.
The belief in the Assumption was not solely based on scriptural evidence. The silence of history and Scripture concerning Mary's death, along with the definition at the Council of Ephesus of Mary as the "Theotokos" (God-bearer), likely led to the rise of apocryphal literature about Mary's dormition. One such account suggests that Mary's tomb was found empty three days after her burial, leading to the belief that Jesus had taken his mother to heaven.
The New Testament provides evidence supportive of Mary's special privilege, with several passages speaking of her great dignity. St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, referenced Psalm 131:8 in promoting belief in the assumption of Mary. The Hebrew Scripture's Song of Songs contains passages that some scholars interpret as prophetical references to Mary.
The feast of the Assumption is one of four Marian dogmas, and it holds significant importance in the Catholic Church. The feast was a major feast in the 1570 Sacramentary published by Pope Pius V during the Counter-Reformation. The Marian dogma of the bodily Assumption of Mary was solemnly proclaimed as a Catholic dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, establishing the feast as a significant Catholic holy day commemorated on August 15.
Father Richard Gribble, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a doctorate holder from The Catholic University of America, is a testament to the enduring relevance of the Assumption. His scholarly work continues to explore and deepen our understanding of this cherished belief.
