The Catholic
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The Assumption
Protestants argue against the Catholic belief that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. They say that the Bible mentions the taking up of Enoch into heaven (Gen. 5:24), and later, of Elijah (2 Chron. 2:1-13). Why, they say, would the Bible fail to mention the assumption of Mary?
The Gospels were concerned with the life of Jesus until His resurrection. The Acts is concerned with the missionary work of the Apostles. The epistles are concerned with issues relevant to the churches that were written to. The Revelation of John is apocalyptic and deals with symbolism and imagery. Even if these works were written after the death of Mary, it is not surprising that they would fail to mention it. The assumption of Mary was not a major concern of the early church, or was not relevant to the audiences of the Biblical writers, although Mary's presence in heaven is attested to in Revelation 12. But the Assumption is not contrary to the Scriptures. In Matthew 27:52-53, we are told that "the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." Were all these bodies of dead men and women buried again, or were they assumed into heaven? The latter is most likely. One day, our bodies will join our souls in heaven (1 Cor. 15). Mary just received this privilege early.
Another proof of the Assumption is the fact that no one claims to have the bodily remains of Mary. Catholics venerate the relics of saints, and Mary is the most venerated of all saints. Surely many churches would lay claim to the relics of Mary, unless, of course, she was assumed into heaven. There are places which venerate her empty tomb, but not her remains.
Why should Mary be assumed into heaven? Mary should have the privilege of being in heaven, body as soul, because of her sinlessness. Original sin brought with it death and bodily corruption. Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, should logically be preserved from such a fate.
So why did Mary die, ask Protestants? After all, if Mary never had original sin, then she was like Eve before the Fall and should have lived forever. Two things must be said. First of all, the Church has never said whether or not Mary died, although it is assumed that she did. Secondly, if she did die, it was according to the will of God. She accepted death in imitation of Jesus, who did not have to die either. She did not deem it appropriate to escape death when her Son was not preserved from such a fate, and God honored that by allowing her to die.
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