There are SO many reasons to believe in the Dormition of Mary, but certainly of VERY heavy weight is the Ancient tradition of the Eastern Church, in both her Liturgy and her Icons. Then we also have this tradition in the Western Church as well. It has been established for as long as the Eastern Church’s tradition. Then we have the teachings of Popes (including the Blessed John Paul II, who explicitly stated that the wording of the document “MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS” means, without any doubt that Mary died. Then we have the teachings of Saints and Theologians going back to ancient times. Then we have Theological reasons as well, which I will get to in a minute.
The reasons for believing Mary never died are poorly thought out, employ sloppy Biblical exegesis and theology, not to mention a faulty understanding of how to read Papal documents, while failing to recognize the true teaching authority of the Church (The Universal Church from ancient times until now,) and substituting a wrong headed concept of only believing infallible documents (as poorly interpreted by themselves.)
The main reasons for believing Mary never died (as often seen in this forum are) :
Enoch and Elijah were “Assumed” into heaven while still living, and more probably also Moses (and maybe some others yet to be named?)
This is false on many grounds. First, on Biblical exegesis. It is very probable, if not certain that the writers of these passages were using a poetic euphemism for a funeral pyre (in Elijah’s case) or just a mysterious passing (in Enoch’s) case. The idea of an “Assumption” is totally foreign to Ancient Jewish culture. Heaven (as Christians understand it today) was not taught or understood. It was the “bosom of Abraham.”
Further, Christians believe that the CENTRAL reason for the Incarnation and Redemption of Jesus Christ was to RE-OPEN the gates of Heaven, which had been shut up since the fall of Adam & Eve. To think that random people throughout the Old Testament were in fact being "ASSUMED’ into heaven while living is a direct ASSAULT on the doctrine of the Redemption.
Further, Jesus Christ Himself said that St. John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets, and yet HE was beheaded! How do we reconcile that? Old Testament Assumptions are merely “modes” of dying for SOME holy prophets but not others? It is TOO ridiculous a thought! It DEGRADES AND DEBASES the MOST Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Another faulty argument in favor of Mary being assumed while living is that she was sinless, and therefore was also created immortal, unlike the rest of mankind since the fall of Adam and Eve.
But it is an error to believe Mary was created sinless (the Immaculate Conception) for her own sake. The Immaculate Conception was an extraordinary favor of God bestowed upon Mary FOR THE SAKE OF THE INCARNATION. It was that Jesus Christ, THE MOST HIGH, would have need for a perfect, unstained tabernacle. This special favor was granted the Virgin Mary IN ANTICIPATION of her REDEMPTION by her Son. IOW, Mary did not merit the Immaculate Conception, it was for the sake of the Incarnation. Mary therefore was NOT created as an immortal human, but given an extraordinary grace in anticipation of her role as the Mother of God. Mary’s cooperation with God’s grace was heroic, instantaneous and pure. That is what raises her above all the Angels and Saints; her extraordinary holiness in cooperating with God’s abundant grace and Holy Will. Therefore it is only fitting that Mary would die, like her Son, and all the rest of mankind.
Further, Jesus Christ Himself said that the servant is NOT above his master. Therefore it is a mistake to believe that Mary, the handmaid of God, would be above her Master, the Son of God.
Further, as Pope John Paul II says, it would have been our Blessed Mother’s Will to share IN EVERY RESPECT with her Son Jesus Christ, in the work of Redemption, which included death, which Jesus Christ had elevated and made Holy, by His own suffering and Death. It would have been CONTRARY to the Gospel Doctrine for God to consider death (after the Redemptive work of Jesus) to be merely a punishment for the sin of Adam.
Further consequences of believing Mary never died:
She was DENIED a resurrection from the dead, whereby we ALL including Jesus, receive our GLORIFIED BODY, which is necessary for entering Heaven.
The Resurrection of Mary is CENTRAL to the belief in the Assumption of Mary, with her glorified body and soul into Heaven.
In short, believing that Mary never died, requires a tortured twisting of Biblical passages, Papal documents, and common Church doctrines and dogmas, taught from ancient times. It is a relatively new concept as well, arising (as far as I have been able to tell) SINCE the Reformation, when so much error abounded in Western Christianity.
