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Assumption |
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BASIC R.C.BELIEF See alsoThe Assumption of Mary - by Joe Mizzi Pope Benedict XIV stated that Assumption of Mary was a probable option, which is impious to deny, but it was not then made an article of faith (a dogma that must be believed under pain of mortal sin). After centuries of debate among theologians, on November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII made the first certainly infallible statement since the Pope was so recognized in 1870. He said, "We pronounce, declare and define it to be a dogma revealed by God, that the Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever a Virgin, at the end of her earthly life was taken up into celestial glory in soul and body."
Part of his statement concerning Mary follows:
"Enraptured by the splendor of your heavenly beauty and impelled by the
anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into your arms. Oh Immaculate
Mother of Jesus and our Mother. Mary...we adore and praise the peerless
richness of the sublime gifts with which God has filled you above every other
mere creature. From the moment of your conception until the day on which
after your assumption into heaven, He crowned you Queen of the Universe.
Oh crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths. Of
fragrant lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with your heavenly perfume.
Oh Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin which
makes the soul detestable to God and the slave of hell.
"In your name resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that all are brothers and that nations are members of one family...Receive, O sweet Mother, our humble supplications and above all, obtain for us that in that day, happy with you, we may repeat before Your throne that hymn which is sung today around your altars. You are beautiful, Oh Mary. You are Glory, you are the Joy, you are the Honor of our people." Details have not been defined. Many say she died, not because of her sin, but because of her burden for lost souls. Others say she was assumed at the very moment of her death, and others put forth the legend that she was assumed up to 206 days after she died. They all agree (and must believe) that she was assumed into Heaven and that, with her Son at her side, she was welcomed and crowned Queen . The scripture used is Romans 6:23, "the wages of sin is death" - her sinless body could not see corruption, so, rather than allow people to venerate her intact body on earth, God brought her to Heaven. (Catholic apologists will tell you that Luther believed in the Assumption of Mary. This is true of him when he first came out of Romanism, but in later years he struck the feast day [August 15 - The Feast of the Assumption] off his calendar.) POST VATICAN II From CATHOLICISM VS. FUNDAMENTALISM, Keating, p. 275. "(W)here is the proof from Scripture? Strictly, there is none. It was the Catholic Church that was commissioned by Christ to teach all nations and to teach them infallibly. The mere fact that the Church teaches the doctrine of the Assumption as something definitely true is a guarantee that it is true...It is enough to say there is no problem with an infallible Church officially defining a doctrine that, although not contrary to Scripture, cannot be found on its face. After all, the Bible says nothing against the Assumption; silence is not the same as rejection, although, to be sure, silence is not the same as affirmation either. Silence is just - silence." Biblical Response from "Treasures from God's Storehouse"(page 9) But the Bible is not silent. It militates against any doctrine or teaching that would obscure the perfect Saviourhood of Christ. Since He is the masterpiece of God's redemptive activity and Satan has aligned himself against God, this is not unusual. However, it is tragic that sincere people disregard Biblical testimony. The Biblical emphasis is always upon the infinite Christ of the Bible and His never-to-be-repeated sacrifice on Calvary to fully satisfy God's demands of Justice and provide salvation as God's free gift to undeserving man. CHRISTIAN COMMENT Any undue exaltation of Mary is repulsive to a Christian who desires to see the Lord Jesus Christ alone exalted (Philippians 2:10,11). See Jeremiah 44:17 concerning "Queen of Heaven."
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