August 15 + The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the teaching that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

This teaching was infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 in the papal bull Munificentissimus Deus (Latin “Most Bountiful God”). As Pius XII explained, this is “a divinely revealed dogma.” This means that it is an indisputable truth in the proper sense. It is thus a matter of faith that has been divinely revealed by God and that has been infallibly proposed by the Magisterium of the Church as such.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not surprising that Mary shared in his glorification as well. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with Him body and soul in heaven.