| The fact that Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul, was proclaimed a dogma of the Catholic Church on November 1, 1950 by Pope Pius XII. Pope Pius XII stated as dogma what had been commonly held by the Church for centuries. There are homilies on the Assumption dated from before the sixth century, and by the thirteenth century, there was universal agreement concerning this feast. |
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The statement of Pius XII included the following exert "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords, and conqueror of sin and death." (Munificentissimus Deus 1950) The Assumption of Mary anticipates the resurrection of all members of the Body of Christ. |
