Did Mary die?

[metal1633]

The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated on August 15. Through her womb, heaven and earth were joined together. Through her, all mankind has been reborn. Her death and burial show us the completion of God’s plan for all mankind. The Feast celebrates the Mother of God as the Mother of Life. In powerful imagery and poetic verse, the Matin Hymns of the Feast relate this mystery:

“At the all-powerful command, the assembly of the Apostles from the ends of the earth, and the mulitude of Angels from on high made haste to Zion, there to minister in fitting manner at your burial, O Lady. The gates of heaven were opened wide and the Angels sang as Christ received the virgin-treasure of His own Mother. Cherubim withdrew before you in your exultation while Seraphim glorified you in your joy.”

We remember the death and burial of the Mother of God, and we celebrate her resurrection and ascension.

“In giving birth you have preserved your virginity and in faling asleep you did not forsake the world, Oh Mother of God. You have passed to Life being the Mother of Life. Through your intercession, save our souls from death.”

“The grave and death did not detain the Mother of God who prays perpetually, and is our unfailing hope in her intercession; for He Who dwelt in the womb of the Ever-virgin transferred to life the Mother of Life.”

 

[bob]

metal1633:

The Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated on August 15.

There appears to be a slight subtle difference between this Feast and that of the Assumption.

I am quoting from another thread “Original Sin” on this site:

jimmy:

Since the Eastern Orthodox do not believe that Original sin is passed on through the generations they can not believe in the Immaculate Conception. However they do believe that Mary did inheret death. Even though they do not believe in the Immaculate Conception they do believe that Mary remain without sin all her life. Essentially they believe the same thing as the Catholics but there difference in the belief on Original Sin causes a difference in the belief on the Immaculate Conception. They also believe that Mary was assumed into Heaven, they call it the dormition of Mary.

The name of the Feast is different but the belief is the same - she was assumed into heaven “at the end of her earthly life”.

The Catholic Church does not take an official stand on her death one way or another and the Dogma is deliberately vague about that. Perhaps we should just leave it as is.

The Coronation of Our Lady although is taught by the church is not considered ex-cathedra. So Catholics are not bound to accept it.

 

[metal1633]

bob:

There appears to be a slight subtle difference between this Feast and that of the Assumption.

I am quoting from another thread “Original Sin” on this site:

The name of the Feast is different but the belief is the same - she was assumed into heaven “at the end of her earthly life”.

The Catholic Church does not take an official stand on her death one way or another and the Dogma is deliberately vague about that. Perhaps we should just leave it as is.

The Coronation of Our Lady although is taught by the church is not considered ex-cathedra. So Catholics are not bound to accept it.

I am a Maronite Catholic. Not an Orthodox. And there is no differance. It is the same feast. And it IS a Dogma of the Faith that Mary is Queen. The Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium states that “the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things”. It does not require an ex-cathedra statement by the Pope for a doctrine to be Dogma. Most of our doctrines have NOT been defined ex-cathedra. Apostolic Tradition is enough. The Apostiolic Tradition is Infallible. It is an Apostolic Tradition that she died.

The dogmatic decrees on this issue are intentionally vague. It is the nature of her death that is the scope of theological discussion. Whether her death was of her own choice, that she willed to lay down her life at the proper time, or was her life wrested from her perforce by natural process. The former is a fine thought but I chose the latter for the Church teaches that the state of original sanctity, innocence, and justice, as opposed to original sin, was conferred upon her, by which gift every stain and fault, all depraved emotions, passions, and debilities, essentially pertaining to original sin, were excluded. But she was not made exempt from the temporal penalties of Adam – from sorrow, bodily infirmities, and death. The Catechism also mentions her Dormition. Thats right. The Catechism. As a Catholic you should accept that she did infact fall asleep in death

The idea that “because the Pope didnt say so I dont have to believe it” is very legalistic and we have been freed from that sort of pharisitical scrupulosity. It is the Tradition of the Church. THATS why we believe it.

 

[bob]

metal1633:

I am a Maronite Catholic. Not an Orthodox. And there is no differance. It is the same feast. And it IS a Dogma of the Faith that Mary is Queen. The Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium states that “the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things”. It does not require an ex-cathedra statement by the Pope for a doctrine to be Dogma. Most of our doctrines have NOT been defined ex-cathedra. Apostolic Tradition is enough. The Apostiolic Tradition is Infallible. It is an Apostolic Tradition that she died.

Thanks for the correction. I picked up the coronation error somewhere on this site or on the net very recently.

Did not realise that is is in Lumen Gentum.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.



By the way, I had encountered a very vitriolic Maronite on this site who claims that he is ex-Roman Catholic converting to Maronite. And he is very anti-RC too!
Sounds strange to me as I thought we had the same beliefs.
Can you enlighten me?

 

[metal1633]

bob:

Thanks for the correction. I picked up the coronation error somewhere on this site or on the net very recently.

Did not realise that is is in Lumen Gentum.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.



By the way, I had encountered a very vitriolic Maronite on this site who claims that he is ex-Roman Catholic converting to Maronite. And he is very anti-RC too!
Sounds strange to me as I thought we had the same beliefs.
Can you enlighten me?

It is a sad state of affairs in the west. It is known that some of the ultra-traditionalists will come to one of the Eastern Rites as a way of avoiding schism and as a means to attempt to remain faithfull to the Traditions but he wont be allowed to “Convert” if his anti-roman feelings are made known. He must reconcile himself with the Church first.

I put convert in quotes because it is not a conversion. He is not changing Faiths. He is changing Rites. If he perceives it as such he has a problem because it will never happen and may find himself outside the fold. Being angry with Rome is not a reason to change rites (anger being a cardinal sin) and if he is ever going to be in full Communion with the Partriarch of the East he will need to be in full Communion with the Patriarch of the West, John Paul II.