Scriptural support for Mary's Assumption?

[Asimis]

Greetings,

I just finished the part of the Profession fo Faith in the Catechism and before I moved on I wanted to revisit and clear up everythign I had read so far. One of the things that came up was the Assumption of Mary, I was wondering if there is any official document from the Vatican that talks about it(like an official statement) or simply what are the biblical verses that are used to support the doctrine.


Thanks in advance,
Asimis

 

[Carrye]

From New Advent

 

[Paul S]

Apocalypse 12:1-2 refers to Mary:

And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered.

Here's Munificentissimus Deus, which mentions Scripture references in the footnotes.

 

[Asimis]

Apocalypse 12:1-2 refers to Mary:

And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered.

Yes, I know the meaning of Rev 12 and how it relates to Mary. But that speaks more of her role, nature, etc. But I am looking for things specifict to her Assumption to Heaven.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Paul S]

You may have missed it, since I added it after I originally posted, but Munificentissimus Deus is the document officially proclaiming the doctrine of the Assumption. That's probably the best source.

 

[Michelina]

Asimis, you won't find any specific mention of the fact of the Assumption in Scripture, if that's what you mean. The Scriptures are about Jesus. There's not that much in SS about her.

 

[Carrye]

Asimis, you won't find any specific mention of the fact of the Assumption in Scripture, if that's what you mean. The Scriptures are about Jesus. There's not that much in SS about her.

Most of what the Scriptures say you will hear this time of year with the Nativity Narratives. But there are some good scholarly-scriptural works on Mary, if you're interested. One that comes to mind is by Raymond Brown.

 

[Asimis]

You may have missed it, since I added it after I originally posted, but Munificentissimus Deus is the document officially proclaiming the doctrine of the Assumption. That's probably the best source.

Ah, thanks a lot. I will take the time to read it now and will post comments/questions about it afterwards.

 

[Asimis]

Asimis, you won't find any specific mention of the fact of the Assumption in Scripture, if that's what you mean. The Scriptures are about Jesus. There's not that much in SS about her.

I agree, I just read the MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS document that was posted and I agree with it. While the dogma is not stated in the Scriptures(just like the Trinity), it logically follows from them.

Now then it seems that only Mary and Jesus are the ones who have assended bodily into heaven, right?

Some people say that Enoch, Eliah and Moses have gone to heaven but I think that people who do so are actually taking the text out of context, anybody agree/disagree?

Another thing, what does NU-Text mean? Here is a link to Luke 1:28:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=luke 1:28&version=50
In the Footnotex it says that "NU-Text omits blessed are you among women.", what does that means?

 

[Paul S]

Now then it seems that only Mary and Jesus are the ones who have assended bodily into heaven, right?

The only one to ascend into heaven was Jesus. Mary was assumed into heaven. Jesus ascended by His own power as God; Mary required God to do this for her.

Some people say that Enoch, Eliah and Moses have gone to heaven but I think that people who do so are actually taking the text out of context, anybody agree/disagree?

Henoch and Elias may also be in heaven body and soul. In Genesis, it gives a list of Adam's descendants, each ending "and he died." However, we then see "And all the days of Henoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took him."

If they are in heaven body and soul, this happened after the Ascension, since Jesus was the man to enter heaven. I think they probably are, but I don't think the Church has formally pronounced on this.

 

[Asimis]

The only one to ascend into heaven was Jesus. Mary was assumed into heaven. Jesus ascended by His own power as God; Mary required God to do this for her.

Yeah that is what I meant, got the wording mixed up.

Henoch and Elias may also be in heaven body and soul. In Genesis, it gives a list of Adam's descendants, each ending "and he died." However, we then see "And all the days of Henoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took him."

Yeah, I understand but I think that the text does not says that he went to heaven. And it does says that Enoch did die when it says "And all the days of Enoch were.."

Check out this small article, it has some info on this:
http://www.tektonics.org/af/firstascent.html

If they are in heaven body and soul, this happened after the Ascension, since Jesus was the man to enter heaven. I think they probably are, but I don't think the Church has formally pronounced on this.

Yes it is possible that they were ressurected after Jesus Ascension. But I don't think that it hapened during the OT times like people claim.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Apocalypse 12:1-2 refers to Mary:

And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered.

Here's Munificentissimus Deus, which mentions Scripture references in the footnotes.

Actually the woman clothed with the sun is the Church, not the Blessed Mother. The Assumption occured long after the events in the Gospels or Epistles though, so....

 

[Asimis]

Actually the woman clothed with the sun is the Church, not the Blessed Mother. The Assumption occured long after the events in the Gospels or Epistles though, so....

How old would Mary be by then? Lets say she was 18/20 when she gave birth to Jesus, if Jesus lived around 35 years or so that would make her about 55 by the time of his death(around 30 AD), if she was assumed into heaven after Revelations was written which would be around 80-100 AD then she would be over a hundred years old or more by the time of her death.

Is there any date stablished for her birth? Or even her death?

 

[Adammi]

Or even her death?

The church has no official statements as to whether she even died or not.

 

[InnerPhyre]

How old would Mary be by then? Lets say she was 18/20 when she gave birth to Jesus, if Jesus lived around 35 years or so that would make her about 55 by the time of his death(around 30 AD), if she was assumed into heaven after Revelations was written which would be around 80-100 AD then she would be over a hundred years old or more by the time of her death.

Is there any date stablished for her birth? Or even her death?

She would have been quite old indeed, although she was probably only 13 or 14 when she gave birth to Jeus..tho I imagine one as holy as she wouldn't have had much of a problem remaining in good health

 

[Adammi]

I think that the passage in Revelation is refering to Mary and is refering to the Chuch. It uses the example of Mary as a personification of the Church. Just my 2 cents worth.

~Adam

 

[InnerPhyre]

I think that the passage in Revelation is refering to Mary and is refering to the Chuch. It uses the example of Mary as a personification of the Church. Just my 2 cents worth.

~Adam

Hmmm...this could be. Wise beyond your years, my friend

 

[Paul S]

Actually the woman clothed with the sun is the Church, not the Blessed Mother. The Assumption occured long after the events in the Gospels or Epistles though, so....

The woman can be both, as well as representing Israel and perhaps other things. I'm pretty sure this is one of the verses the Church has pronounced on, using it as Scriptural support for the Assumption. I know it's often used in scriptural Rosaries for the last two glorious mysteries, and it's also read in the Office for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. In the new Mass, it's the first reading for the Assumption; in the TLM, it's the introit . From this, it's pretty clear the Church believes the woman to be Mary, although she can have other meanings, too, since the Apocalypse is meant not just for John's specific audience but for all men of all times and places.

The reading makes it a bit clearer, because the last verse of chapter 11 should probably go with chapter 12:

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices and an earthquake and great hail. 1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered.

Just as the "ark of his testament" (in the NAB, "of his covenant") bore the Old Covenant, the Ten Commandments and the Law, so too did Mary bear the New Covenant, Jesus.

In the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, she is depicted with the sun behind her and standing on the moon.

If you've ever wondered why statues of Mary often depict her with a snake at her feet, that's Genesis 3:15. This is the first reading at the new Mass on the Immaculate Conception. In the old rite, it's read as the first three lessons at Matins.

"I will put enmities between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel."