This week in Christian history: Ted Haggard resigns, female bishop consecrated, the Assumption of Mary

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, October 30, 2022

Assumption of Mary labeled dogma by Catholic Church – Nov. 1, 1950

A 16th century depiction of the Assumption of Mary. According to Roman Catholic Church teaching, the Virgin Mary was taken up to Heaven rather than experiencing a natural death. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when the Assumption of Mary, the belief that the Virgin Mary was taken up into Heaven by God rather than dying, became official Catholic Church dogma.

Although belief in the assumption goes at least as far back as the sixth century, it was not until 1950 that Pope Pius XII made it official Catholic Church dogma, and defined it in a document titled “Munificentissimus Deus” or “Most Bountiful God” in English.

“Since our Redeemer is the Son of Mary, he could not do otherwise, as the perfect observer of God's law, than to honor, not only his eternal Father, but also his most beloved Mother,” stated the papal document.

“And, since it was within his power to grant her this great honor, to preserve her from the corruption of the tomb, we must believe that he really acted in this way.”

George Smiga, a Catholic priest and seminary teacher, explained in a 2018 column that there “is no mention of Mary’s assumption within the Scriptures,” but rather it comes from early church stories.

“Mary is not divine. She is fully human like us. And like us, her entry into God’s kingdom depends upon Jesus’ resurrection,” wrote Smiga.

“Because he has been raised up, she will also be bodily resurrected. But unlike us, Mary does not need to wait until the last day. Because of her unique role as the mother of Jesus and in Christian belief ‘the Mother of God,’ she by a special grace of God has already been raised up and has entered God’s kingdom.”