Why did Mary die

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I have always heard that it is tradition that Mary died and then was assumed into heaven. If Mary was born without sin and the wages of sin is death then why did Mary die?
 
One such theory (if I remember correctly) is that Mary asked for death, since she in her humility did not wish to avoid dying when Christ didn’t.
 
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You mean as opposed to Enoch or Elias who didn’t die? I don’t know, God knows and it is all that matters.
 
Here’s what St. Alphonsus Liguori says in the Glories of Mary:
But God, wishing Mary in all things to be like to Jesus, required, as the Son had died, that the mother should also die; and because he wishes to give to the just an example of the blessed death prepared for them, he decreed that the virgin should die, but by a sweet and happy death.
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Here’s the whole section on her death:
https://www.ecatholic2000.com/liguori/glories36.shtml
 
Actually the Church punted on the issue of her death saying she was assumed into heaven “at the end of her earthly life”…not explicitly that she died…
 
Depending on where you draw from and what you believe from private revelation* (this is my personal belief)

She died to be like Christ in all things, she was asked if she wanted to experience death by Our Lord, and she said “yes.” But this was not an ordinary “death” since it was her choice. She experienced a separation of body and soul and then was assumed body and soul into Heaven.

I believe the Eastern churches call this the “Dormition,” (“The falling asleep”). Thus it was only a temporary state.

*I’m drawing these beliefs from Mystical City of God by Mary of Agreda who is supposed to have witnessed the life of the Virgin Mary from birth until “death” via mystical visions. Mary of Agreda was a very holy woman.
 
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Yes, and if she were literally one of those … taken alive and bodily in the “some will not die but will be caught up in the clouds to join the Lord” prophecy of St. Paul … that’d sure be at least a possibility.

As easy for God to assume a live person into heaven as a dead one (per Elijah and Enoch) … and let them appear on Earth bodily again (Elijah and Moses* * who DID die but reappeared at Jesus’ Transfiguration.

Simeon’s prophecy of Mary being pierced too, like Jesus … isn’t literally fulfilled in scripture as a physical thing. But the Church allows for the sword of sorrows interior martyrdom of the sorrowful mother.

It makes for an interesting meditation.
HAS Mary died … and been restored already?

WILL she later be literally be pierced with a sword and die for the very first time … like Enoch and Elijah … per the man is appointed once to die edict?

Could NOT dying EVER be one of the “great things” God has done for Mary? Like a sinless beginning (like Eve and Adam) and a full of grace state afterward?

MY opinions on the matter won’t change what IS … but I’m glad of the thread question.

IF she remained sinless throughout her life … did she need to be saved by a savior? Well. She, in the Holy Spirit, declared God WAS/IS her savior … well before Jesus died on the cross. < As attested by scripture in the early part of the book of Luke.

Bible literalists like to quote Paul’s “ALL have sinned and fallen short …” admonishment - to imply “Mary too!” … but Paul was quoting an OT verse written well before Mary was born.

And Immaculately Conceived. 😀😇
 
I have always punted on my own belief as well. I do not know, nor care. It is enough that she is my mother and was assumed into Heaven, praying for us.
 
Likewise, I am unconcerned with whether she died or not. If she did die, it might have been for a millisecond for all we know.

Assuming for the sake of argument she did die, some arguments for it would be
  • Mary was very humble and did many things in life that she, being sinless, didn’t need to do (such as ritual purification in the Temple). Dying would be just one more of those humble things.
  • Jesus died, so Mary would have wanted to have the same experience as her son, and not be put above her son by not dying.
  • It was the will of God that Mary should die for some reason. Mary always did God’s will without questioning it.
 
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