On August 15th Catholic Christians celebrate the “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” This is the belief that Mary’s body was taken up (“assumed”) into heaven. While there is no explicit Biblical account of this, it is not contrary to Scripture and is in fact highly plausible. How so? First let us look at three Biblical figures who were “taken up into heaven,” setting the precedent for the idea of a bodily assumption of Mary.
Enoch, named in Gen. 5:24, is affirmed in Hebrews as bodily taken up to heaven: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and ‘he was found no more because God had taken him.’ Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5).
Moses, did indeed die (see Deut. 34:5), but many Israelites believed his body was later taken up to heaven. This belief is referenced in the Letter of St. Jude, where he mentions the dispute between Michael the Archangel and Satan over Moses’ body (see Jude 9). Furthermore, his presence with Elijah at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-8, Matthew 17:1-6, or Luke 9:28-36), implies they’re (bodily) in heaven.
Elijah, was bodily taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11). St. Epiphanius, writing in 350 A.D., says of Mary, “…she, like Elijah, who was virgin from his mother’s womb, always remained so, and was taken up, but has not seen death.”
Furthermore, Jesus Christ Himself, bodily ascended into heaven (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9-11). It seems fitting that the body of the one through whom Jesus “became flesh” (the Blessed Virgin Mary), would not corrupt in death but would be taken up into heaven as well.
But, wait! There’s more! While many of the New Testament writers likely died before Mary was taken up from this world (thus the lack of explicit reference to it), John in the book of Revelation, does seem to imply Mary’s taken up into heaven (again, Rev. 12). In Revelation 12, John has a vision of a woman in the sky. While this woman symbolizes the Church she also, clearly, symbolizes Mary, and connects her to the Ark of the Covenant (see Rev. 11:19). From ancient times, Christians have made this connection. Just as the Ark was consecrated for Sacred Purpose, so too was Mary specially chosen and blessed by God. Mary is called by the angel Gabriel, “Favored one” or “Full of Grace” (Luke 1:28), who had “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). She is also called “Blessed among women” (Luke 1:42), and is one whom “all generations will call blessed” (Luke 1:48). Mary’s passing over into heaven at the end of her life, is like the Ark of the New Covenant being carried up into the Heavenly Jerusalem, just as David, with much rejoicing, carried the ark into the earthly Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 15).
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
PS: A reminder that the Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Masses will be as follows
Thurs. Aug. 14 – 5:30pm at St. Patrick’s, Hampton (bilingual)
Fri. Aug. 15 – 5:30pm at St. Mary’s, Ackley
