Question about the Assumption of Mary

[ResoluteSheep]

Since Mary was free from original sin and free from all sorts of sin, she wouldn’t die, right? As ‘‘the wages of sin is death’’ (Romans 6:23) but since Mary was without sin, I don’t think this applies to her. But apparently there have been some dispute on whether the Blessed Virgin was taken up directly into Heaven while alive or whether the angels carried her immediately to Heaven when she died, but since she was without sin, she cannot die, right? Or would it still be a penalty because she was human too?

I’m really misinformed on this, and would like some clarifications, thank you

 

[M-Dent]

I’d recommend starting with a Papal teaching that touches on the topic.

Pope Pius XII, in the letter defining the Dogma of the Assumption {Munificentissimus Deus} explained the tradition that Mary died but her body was free from corruption.

That privilege has shone forth in new radiance since our predecessor of immortal memory, Pius IX, solemnly proclaimed the dogma of the loving Mother of God’s Immaculate Conception. These two privileges are most closely bound to one another. Christ overcame sin and death by his own death, and one who through Baptism has been born again in a supernatural way has conquered sin and death through the same Christ. Yet, according to the general rule, God does not will to grant to the just the full effect of the victory over death until the end of time has come. And so it is that the bodies of even the just are corrupted after death, and only on the last day will they be joined, each to its own glorious soul.

1. Now God has willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary should be exempted from this general rule. She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body.

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However, since the liturgy of the Church does not engender the Catholic faith, but rather springs from it, in such a way that the practices of the sacred worship proceed from the faith as the fruit comes from the tree, it follows that the holy Fathers and the great Doctors, in the homilies and sermons they gave the people on this feast day, did not draw their teaching from the feast itself as from a primary source, but rather they spoke of this doctrine as something already known and accepted by Christ’s faithful. They presented it more clearly. They offered more profound explanations of its meaning and nature, bringing out into sharper light the fact that this feast shows, not only that the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained incorrupt, but that she gained a triumph out of death, her heavenly glorification after the example of her only begotten Son, Jesus Christ-truths that the liturgical books had frequently touched upon concisely and briefly.

Hence the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, the noble associate of the divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her privileges, that she should be preserved free from the corruption of the tomb and that, like her own Son, having overcome death, she might be taken up body and soul to the glory of heaven where, as Queen, she sits in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages .

w2.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19501101_munificentissimus-deus.html

 

[Randy_Carson]

Since Mary was free from original sin and free from all sorts of sin, she wouldn’t die, right? As ‘‘the wages of sin is death’’ (Romans 6:23) but since Mary was without sin, I don’t think this applies to her. But apparently there have been some dispute on whether the Blessed Virgin was taken up directly into Heaven while alive or whether the angels carried her immediately to Heaven when she died, but since she was without sin, she cannot die, right? Or would it still be a penalty because she was human too?

I’m really misinformed on this, and would like some clarifications, thank you

One thought is that Mary chose to be like her son in all ways. He died, and she chose to imitate Him in this regard.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

One thought is that Mary chose to be like her son in all ways. He died, and she chose to imitate Him in this regard.

The Will of God was always uppermost with the BVM. Therefore it was the Will of God. Not that she deserved death, but that, like the Incarnation, it was a grace given to her for the increase of her merit in joining with her Son, to offer these things (like death), with Him, for the salvation of all mankind.

It is also said that her death was unlike that of anyone else since Adam. She was free from sin (no fear/remorse or guilt) nor was she attached in any way to this world, and actually looked forward to her bodily dissolution, in order to again be with her Son. So her death, was as much a sublime mystery (and as utterly private) as the Incarnation itself.

There are SO MANY reasons, both temporal and spiritual that prevent us (certainly myself anyway) from supposing the Virgin Mary simply was carried off one day.

 

[M-Dent]

One thought is that Mary chose to be like her son in all ways. He died, and she chose to imitate Him in this regard.

Yes.

Pope John Paul II in a General Audience (found here) had some valuable (name removed by moderator)ut and also shared St Francis de Sales reflection on the question.

Some theologians have in fact maintained that the Blessed Virgin did not die and and was immediately raised from earthly life to heavenly glory. However, this opinion was unknown until the 17th century, whereas a common tradition actually exists which sees Mary’s death as her entry into heavenly glory.

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It is true that in Revelation death is presented as a punishment for sin. However, the fact that the Church proclaims Mary free from original sin by a unique divine privilege does not lead to the conclusion that she also received physical immortality. The Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death, giving it a new meaning and changing it into a means of salvation

As to the cause of Mary’s death, the opinions that wish to exclude her from death by natural causes seem groundless. It is more important to look for the Blessed Virgin’s spiritual attitude at the moment of her departure from this world. In this regard, St Francis de Sales maintains that Mary’s death was due to a transport of love. He speaks of a dying “in love, from love and through love”, going so far as to say that the Mother of God died of love for her Son Jesus (Treatise on the Love of God, bk. 7, ch. XIII-XIV).

 

[57classic]

"However, since the liturgy of the Church does not engender the Catholic faith, but rather springs from it, in such a way that the practices of the sacred worship proceed from the faith as the fruit comes from the tree, it follows that the holy Fathers and the great Doctors, in the homilies and sermons they gave the people on this feast day, did not draw their teaching from the feast itself as from a primary source, but rather they spoke of this doctrine as something already known and accepted by Christ’s faithful. **They presented it more clearly. They offered more profound explanations of its meaning and nature, bringing out into sharper light the fact that this feast shows, not only that the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained incorrupt, but that she gained a triumph out of death, her heavenly glorification after the example of her only begotten Son, Jesus Christ-truths that the liturgical books had frequently touched upon concisely and briefly. " (Emphasis added)

I find it interesting that modern people have such a hard time remembering, then believing that these teachings come directly from people who knew Our Lady and St. John or knew people who had met them and spoke with them. All things are not contained in the Bible but in our Traditions handed down from those who were there.

 

[thistle]

Since Mary was free from original sin and free from all sorts of sin, she wouldn’t die, right? As ‘‘the wages of sin is death’’ (Romans 6:23) but since Mary was without sin, I don’t think this applies to her. But apparently there have been some dispute on whether the Blessed Virgin was taken up directly into Heaven while alive or whether the angels carried her immediately to Heaven when she died, but since she was without sin, she cannot die, right? Or would it still be a penalty because she was human too?

I’m really misinformed on this, and would like some clarifications, thank you

The dogmatic teaching is that Mary was assumed into Heaven. However, the Church does not teach whether Mary died first or not. Catholics are free to believe either. Personally, I believe she died first but that is anyway not important.