The Assumption has been a subject of Christian art for centuries. Christian art is Art produced in an attempt to illustrate supplement and portray in tangible form the principles of Christianity. This painting is believed to be by Bartolome Murillo

According to Roman Catholic theology and Catechism, the Virgin Mary, "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. This article is about the painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo There is also an article on the Canadian village Murillo Ontario, which was named after the artist due to Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective A catechism (ˈkætəkɪzəm κατηχισμός is a summary or exposition of Doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament "^[1] This means that Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united. The feast day recognizing Mary's passage into Heaven is celebrated as The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics. The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints This doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950 in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus. In Catholicism, a dogmatic definition is an extraordinary infallible statement published by a Pope or an Ecumenical council concerning a matter Pope Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Munificentissimus Deus ( Latin for "The most bountiful God " is the name of an Apostolic constitution written by Pope Pius XII The Assumption of Mary into heaven, (often also called the Dormition,) is also taught by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental and Coptic Orthodox Churches In those denominations that observe it, the Assumption is commonly celebrated on August 15. The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed

In his August 15, 2004 homily given at Lourdes, Pope John Paul II quoted John 14:3 from the Bible as a scriptural basis for understanding the dogma of the Assumption of Mary, where Christ, in his Last Supper discourses, explained that "When I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also". Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Lourdes ( Occitan: Lorda) is a town and commune situated in the southwest of the Hautes-Pyrénées department, lying in the first Pyrenean Pope According to Catholic theology, Mary is the pledge of the fulfillment of Christ's promise. However, many theologians disagree with this interpretation of Scripture, and believe that Christ was speaking about his preparation of Calvary and the crucifixion for the remission of sins. ^[2]

History

Coptic icon of the Dormition of Our Lady

Although the Assumption was only recently defined as dogma, and in spite of a statement by Epiphanius of Salamis in AD 377 that no one knew of the eventual fate of Mary, accounts of the assumption of Mary into heaven have circulated since at least the 5th century. Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or Epiphanius (ca 310&ndash320 &ndash 403 was bishop of Salamis and metropolitan of Cyprus at the end of the 4th century AD Events By Topic Roman Empire Battle of the Willows: Roman troops fight an inconclusive battle against the Goths. The Roman Catholic Church itself interprets chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation as referring to it. The Book of Revelation, also called Revelation to John, Apocalypse of John ( pronounced, from the Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰωάννου The earliest narrative is the so-called Liber Requiei Mariae (The Book of Mary's Repose), a narrative which survives intact only in an Ethiopic translation. Ge'ez (ግዕዝ, ɡɨʕɨz also transliterated Gi'iz, and referred to as Ethiopic) is an ancient South Semitic Language ^[3] Probably composed by the 4th century, this early Christian apocryphal narrative may be as early as the 3rd century. Also quite early are the very different traditions of the "Six Books" Dormition narratives. The earliest versions of this apocryphon are preserved by several Syriac manuscripts of the 5th and 6th centuries, although the text itself probably belongs to the 4th century. See Syriac (disambiguation for other uses Syriac (syr ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ leššānā Suryāyā) is an Eastern Aramaic language ^[4]

Later apocrypha based on these earlier texts include the De Obitu S. Dominae, attributed to St. John, a work probably from around the turn of the 6th century that is a summary of the "Six Books" narrative. John of Patmos is the name given to the author of the Book of Revelation (or Book of the Apocalypse) in the New Testament. The story also appears in De Transitu Virginis, a late 5th century work ascribed to St. Melito of Sardis that presents a theologically redacted summary of the traditions in the Liber Requiei Mariae. Saint Melito of Sardis (died c180 was the bishop of Sardis, near Smyrna in Asia Minor, and a great authority Jerome, speaking of the The Transitus Mariae tells the story of the apostles being transported by white clouds to the death-bed of Mary, each from the town where he was preaching at the hour. The Decretum Gelasianum in the 490s declared some transitus Mariae literature apocryphal. The so-called Decretum Gelasianum or Gelasian Decree was traditionally attributed to the prolific Pope Gelasius I, bishop of Rome 492&ndash496

St Thomas receiving the Virgin Mary's girdle

An Armenian letter attributed to Dionysus the Areopagite also mentions the event, although this is a much later work, written sometime after the 6th century. Dionysius the Areopagite ( Greek) was the Judge of the Areopagus who as related in the Acts of the Apostles, ( Other saints of this period also provide accounts, notably St Gregory of Tours, St John Damascene, and St Modestus of Jerusalem. Saint Gregory of Tours ( November 30, c 538 &ndash November 17, 594) was a Gallo-Roman historian and bishop of Tours Chrysorrhoas redirects here For the river see Barada. Saint John of Damascus ( Arabic: يوحنا الدمشقي

In some versions of the story the event is said to have taken place in Ephesus, in the House of the Virgin Mary, although this is a much more recent and localized tradition. Ephesus ( Hittite Apasa; Ancient Greek; Turkish Efes) was a city of ancient Anatolia. The House of the Virgin Mary ( Turkish: Meryemana or Meryem Ana Evi, "Mother Mary's House" is a Christian The earliest traditions all locate the end of Mary's life in Jerusalem (see "Mary's Tomb"). Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Mary's Tomb is a Tomb located in the Kidron Valley, on the foothills of Mount of Olives, near the Church of All Nations and Gethsemane By the 7th century a variation emerged, according to which one of the apostles, often identified as St Thomas, was not present at the death of Mary, but his late arrival precipitates a reopening of Mary's tomb, which is found to be empty except for her grave clothes. Thomas the Apostle, also called Judas Thomas, Doubting Thomas, or Didymus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. In a later tradition, Mary drops her girdle down to the apostle from heaven as testament to the event. This article is about the item of clothing In the Scots language, girdle refers to a cooking griddle. ^[5] This incident is depicted in many later paintings of the Assumption.

The Assumption of Mary became an established teaching across the Eastern, Western, Coptic and Oriental churches from at least the 7th Century, the festival date settling at August 15th. Theological debate about the Assumption continued, following the Reformation, climaxing in 1950 when Pope Pius XII defined it as dogma for the Roman Catholic Church. Pope ^[6] It is important to note that the Roman Catholic Church does not recognise the apocryphal accounts as having any authority. It does not base its teaching about the Assumption on them but rather on the historic teaching of the Church down the centuries, and other theological reasons.

The Assumption in Catholic teaching

A series of articles on Roman Catholic Mariology
General articles Mariology • Veneration of the Blessed Virgin • History of Mariology • Papal teachings • Mariology of the saints
Devotions Rosary • Immaculate Heart • 7 Sorrows • Acts of Reparation
Dogmas and Doctrines Doctrines • Mother of God • Perpetual virginity • Immaculate Conception • Assumption • Mediatrix • Co-Redemptrix
Artistic forms Art • Music • Architecture
Marian apparitions (approved or worthy of belief) Guadalupe • La Salette • Lourdes • Pontmain • Knock • Fatima • Banneux • Beauraing

In Ludwig Ott's Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma he states that "the fact of her death is almost generally accepted by the Fathers and Theologians, and is expressly affirmed in the Liturgy of the Church," to which he adduces a number of helpful citations, and concludes that "for Mary, death, in consequence of her freedom from original sin and from personal sin, was not a consequence of punishment of sin. Mariology is the theological study of Mary which methodically presents teachings about her to other parts of the faith such as teachings about Jesus Christ, redemption This article is about the Roman Catholic understanding of Mary and her veneration; for other views see Mary (mother of Jesus and Islamic view The history of Roman Catholic Mariology traces theological developments and views regarding Mary from the early Church to the twentieth century Catholic Mariology is the Encyclopedic area of Theology concerned with Mary the Mother of God, not only with her Life, but her Veneration Catholic Mariology is the area of Theology concerned with Mary the Mother of God, not only with her Life, but her Veneration in daily life The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. The Immaculate Heart of Mary originally The Sacred Heart of Mary is a devotional name used by Roman Catholics and some Anglo-Catholics to refer Our Lady of Sorrows (Latin Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens) the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows (Latin Mater Dolorosa) Our Lady Roman Catholic tradition and Mariology include specific prayers and devotions as Acts of reparation for insults and blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary See also Mariology (Roman Catholic, Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic The Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church have their See also Mariology (Roman Catholic, Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic The Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church have their Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church and also of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy, which For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvation process Co-Redemptrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the redemption process The Blessed Virgin Mary has been one of the major subjects of Christian Art, Catholic Art and Western Art for many centuries Roman Catholic Marian music shares a trait with some other forms of Christian music in adding another emotional dimension to the process of veneration and in being used A Marian apparition is an event in which the Virgin Mary is believed to have Supernaturally appeared to one or more persons regardless of their religious faith This article is about Roman Catholic views on dogma For general views see Dogma Dogma (Roman Catholic explains the concept Our Lady of Guadalupe, also called the Virgin of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Virgen de Guadalupe is a 16th century Roman Catholic Mexican La Salette is a small mountaintop village near Grenoble, France. The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes began on 11 February 1858 when Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year old peasant girl from Lourdes admitted when questioned Our Lady of Hope is the title given to the Virgin Mary on her apparition at Pontmain, France on January 17, 1871. Our Lady Queen of Ireland, is used as the term for the shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary set up following a Marian apparition in Knock, Ireland Our Lady of Fátima (ˈfatimɐ is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by those who believe that she appeared to three shepherd children at Fátima Mariette Beco was a native of Banneux, Belgium in the 1930s She is best known for being associated with the Roman Catholic Marian apparitions Original sin is according to a doctrine in Catholic theology, humanity's state of Sin resulting from the Fall of Man. Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation However, it seems fitting that Mary's body, which was by nature mortal, should be, in conformity with that of her Divine Son, subject to the general law of death". Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[7] The point of her bodily death has not been infallibly defined, and many believe that she did not die at all, but was assumed directly into Heaven. Indeed, the papal decree which infallibly proclaims the doctrine of the Assumption, the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, leaves open the question whether, in connection with her departure, Mary underwent bodily death; that is, it does not dogmatically define the point one way or the other, as shown by the words "having completed the course of her earthly life". Munificentissimus Deus ( Latin for "The most bountiful God " is the name of an Apostolic constitution written by Pope Pius XII ^[6]

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared:

By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: 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^[8]

Since the 1870 solemn declaration of Papal Infallibility by Vatican I in 1870, this declaration by Pius XII has been the first and only ex cathedra use of Papal Infallibility. Pope Papal infallibility is the Dogma in Catholic theology that by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of The First Vatican Council was summoned by Pope Pius IX by the bull Pastor Aeternus of June 29, 1868. Pope Papal infallibility is the Dogma in Catholic theology that by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of While Pope Pius XII deliberately left open the question of whether Mary died before her Assumption, the more common teaching of the early Fathers is that she did. Pope ^[9][10]

The Virgin Mary's heavenly birthday

Possibly the most famous rendition of the subject in Western art, Titian's Assunta (1516-18). Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c 1485 &ndash August 27 1576 better known as Titian, was the leading painter of the 16th-century Venetian

The Assumption is important to many Catholics as the Virgin Mary's heavenly birthday (the day that Mary was received into Heaven). Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen by them as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all enduring Christians that they too will be received into paradise. The Assumption of Mary is symbolised in the Fleur-de-lys Madonna. The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily

The Feast of the Assumption is a Public Holiday in many countries, including Austria, Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, France, some states of Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Vanuatu. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu ( French: République de Vanuatu, Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu) is an Island In Guatemala it is observed in Guatemala City and in the town of Santa Maria Nebaj, both of which claim her as their patron saint. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Guatemala City (in full La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción; locally known as Guatemala or Guate) is the Capital and largest city of the Santa Maria Nebaj (often abbreviated to Nebaj) is a Municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Also, this is the celebration of Mother's Day in Costa Rica. Mother's Day is a day honoring Mothers celebrated on various days in many places around the world Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in In many places, religious parades and popular festivals are held to celebrate this day. In Anglicanism and Lutheranism, the feast is kept, but without official use of the word "Assumption". Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Her feast day is Fête Nationale of the Acadians, of whom she is the patron saint. This article is about the Acadian people and culture The Acadians (Acadiens are the descendants of the seventeenth-century French Businesses close on that day in heavily francophone parts of New Brunswick, Canada. New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Virgin Assumed in Heaven is also patroness of the Maltese Islands and her feast, celebrated on 15 August, apart from being a public holiday in Malta is also celebrated with great solemnity in all the local churches. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands In New York City, alternate side of the street parking rules are suspended. The City of New York ^[11]

Assumption and Dormition (Eastern Christianity) compared

L'assunzione della Vergine Filippo Fortunato Ventui, Mqabba parish Church, Malta, 1896.

The Roman Catholic Feast of the Assumption is celebrated on August 15, and the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos (the falling asleep of the Mother of God) on the same date, preceded by a 14-day fast period. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that Mary died a natural death, that her soul was received by Christ upon death, and that her body was resurrected on the third day after her death and that she was taken up into heaven bodily in anticipation of the general resurrection. Her tomb was found empty on the third day. ". . . Orthodox tradition is clear and unwavering in regard to the central point [of the Dormition]: the Holy Virgin underwent, as did her Son, a physical death, but her body -- like His -- was afterwards raised from the dead and she was taken up into heaven, in her body as well as in her soul. She has passed beyond death and judgement, and lives wholly in the Age to Come. The Resurrection of the Body . . . has in her case been anticipated and is already an accomplished fact. That does not mean, however, that she is dissociated from the rest of humanity and placed in a wholly different category: for we all hope to share one day in that same glory of the Resurrection of the Body which she enjoys even now. "^[12] Many Catholics also believe that she first died before being assumed, but they add that she was miraculously resurrected before being assumed. Others believe she was assumed into Heaven without first passing through death; as mentioned earlier, this aspect of the Assumption is not authoritatively defined in Catholic theology. Eastern Catholics also observe the Feast of the Dormition. This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Many theologians note by way of comparison that in the Roman Catholic Church, the Assumption is dogmatically defined, while in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Dormition is less dogmatically than liturgically and mystically defined. (Such differences spring from a larger pattern in the two traditions, wherein Roman Catholic teachings are often dogmatically and authoritatively defined - in part because of the more centralized structure of Roman Catholicism - while in Eastern Orthodoxy, many doctrines are less authoritative. )^[13]

Assumption in Anglicanism

The Prayer Books of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada mark August 15 as the "Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary". The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. The Scottish Episcopal Church (Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it The Anglican Church of Canada is the sole Canadian representative of the Anglican Communion. Anglo-Catholics often observe the feast day under the same name as Roman Catholics. The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism (or sometimes possibly incorrectly High Church &mdashsee below describe people

In the Episcopal Church, August 15 is observed as the commemoration "Of the Blessed Virgin Mary", and the recent Anglican-Roman Catholic agreed statement on the Virgin Mary assigns a place for both the Dormition and the Assumption in Anglican devotion. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs

Bibliography

• Shoemaker, Stephen J. (2002, 2006). Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary's Dormition and Assumption. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-921074-8
• Duggan, Paul E. (1989). The Assumption Dogma: Some Reactions and Ecumenical Implications in the Thought of English-speaking Theologians. Emerson Press, Cleveland, Ohio

External links

• Early Traditions of the Virgin Mary's Dormition and Assumption a collection of early Dormition and Assumption narratives with introductions
• The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary based on Juniper Carol's Mariology

Famous paintings

• Assumption of the Virgin by Antonio da Correggio
• Assumption of the Virgin by Annibale Carracci

See also

• Assumption Cathedral
• Black Madonna of Częstochowa
• Dormition of the Theotokos
• Fleur de lys
• Holy Trinity
• Munificentissimus Deus
• Resurrection
• Resurrection of Jesus

References