The Assumption is sometimes referred to as the Dormiton. Which is another way of describing a death -like state i.e."falling asleep". The term “Assumption” points to the fact that Mary, has NO DIVINE POWER OF HER OWN, and so was taken up into Heaven body and soul by God.
The term Assumption is used in contrast to the ASCENSION which signifies our Lord's bodily entrance into heavenof His OWN DIVINE POWER.
(I capitalise for those have the mistaken beleif that Mary is a goddess; and also for those who mistakenly beleive Catholics worship her - we do not, we honour her for her unique role as mother of Jesus the Christ.)
One of the earliest Christian feasts we know of, was kept in Antioch around the year 380. It commemorated the death of the Blessed Mother. In the sixth century there is mention of a solemn feast beleived to be the Assumption.
"The teaching of this beleif is drawn from tradition, authority, scriptural comparisons and the sense of what was fitting for the Mother who gave to Christ His Body and Blood." (Father Lauwrence Lovasik -S.V.D. Divine Word Missionary)
This feast is important to the Catholics as it brings to mind that God created us body and soul. His eternal plan is to unite us with Him, body AND soul, just as He has already taken the Blessed Virgin, body AND soul, to be with Him forever in Heaven.
Mary is the fore-runner of God's promise of eternal glory to us. She is truly one of us; being human not Divine in nature.
Mary however, enjoyed the priveledge of being immaculately conceived, this meaning she was without the stain of original sin. One might ask "What chance do we have of entering heaven without the same special priveledge?"
Well, God gave us the ability to choose good over evil or wrongdoing, and the gift of gaining spiritual strength through the worthy receipt of the sacraments:-
Recently, I was listening to one of Ewtn’s theologians speaking of his conversion from Lutherism to Catholicism. Part of his conversion story included relating the details of a vision he was given.
As I recall, part of his college studies required he look into Catholicism. As a Lutheran minister, he began to realise that his education on Catholicism touched only the surface, and that to really understand the Catholic faith, one had to experience living as a Catholic.
One day, he walked into his kitchen when it seemed to him, the kitchen disappeared, and before him was the reliquary of Saint Bernadette.
The voice of God asked him “ what do you see?”
He answered; “ I see a woman who loved God.”
Again the voice of God asked,
“ What do you see?”
He answered again, “ I see that God is master over life and death.”
Once more he heard the voice of God asking him…” What do you see?”
And he answered ” I see that the Sacraments of the Catholic Church deliver what they promise.”
This last response ended the vision.
The man’s journey toward Catholicism eventually led to his conversion, and this was one of the experiences which drew him more deeply into the truths of the Catholic church.<
Because we are not grace-filled as Mary was, God gives us all the helps we need on earth.
God continues to make himself present to us through the sacraments time and again to give us everey opportunity to renew and restore grace we have lost through sin.
Being Human, Mary knows our condition and the battles we have to fight against Satan. Her empathy for us and unique status as the mum of Jesus, puts her in the best position to petition her Divine Son on our behalf, such as she did for the guests at the wedding feast of Cana. It is logical then to say that Jesus gave Mary the priveledges he did not out of injustice, but for our benefit.
In an interview for zenit.org earlier this year, the exorcist Fr. Gabriel Amorth (of the Diocese of Rome) had this to say of Our Lady and her priveledge of being born without original sin:
He conirmed that Satan's great foe is the Virgin Mary.
"On one occasion an exorcist friend of mine asked the devil what most hurts him about Our Lady, what most annoys him. He responded, 'That she is the purest of all creatures and that I am the filthiest; that she is the most obedient of all creatures and that I am the most rebellious; that she is the one who committed no sin and thus always conquers me.'"
According to Father Amorth, Mary is a key figure in the fight against the devil's tricks, especially since she herself was tempted: "Mariology is my field and I have often been asked if Mary was tempted by the devil. Definitely. When? From her birth until her death. But she always triumphed."
Father Amorth affirmed that on some occasions, God forces the Prince of Lies to tell the truth, however, the devil's main struggle is to make man fall into sin.
"To lead man towards evil is to make him fall into sin; this is the devil's preferred activity and we are all subject to it from our birth until our death."
It would follow then that Mary as a mere human, would have been subject to the attacks of Satan. Aware of the priveledge God gave her, she is all the more humble in assisting us with our struggles here on earth.
Having been chosen by the Holy Spirit to form Jesus from her body and blood, she desires for us to benefit from all the sanctifiying grace which can be given through the sacraments.
The Dormiton or Asssumption of Mary, is an important feast to commemorate. She is one of the "first fruits" quoted by St. Paul to the Corinthians.
If we are able to receive the sacraments today, We can do so confident of Mary's help, in the hope of our own future eternal happiness.
CORINTHIANS 1: 20-24
"In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, as the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep. As it was by one man that death came, so through one man has come the resurrection of the dead. Just as all die in Adam, so in Christ all will be brought to life; but all of them im their proper order: Christ the first fruits, and next at his coming, those who belong to Him." (New Jerusalem Bible)
PHOTOS: 1.The Assumption (C)Jblewis 2008 2. O.L.resting with the Christ child. (C)Jblewis 2008 3. Bergsee Madonna 4. Christ greeting a soul at death.(C)Jblewis 2008
