Mary Page Resources for the Solemnity of Mary's Assumption [August 15]
 

Scripture

Like the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception, the dogma of the Assumption is not explicitly stated in the Bible.  The teaching that 'at the end of her earthly course, Mary was assumed into heavenly glory, body and soul' was dogmatically defined by Pius XII in 1950 in Munificentissimus Deus.
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq14.html

Life

What does scripture tell us about Mary's life?

A frequently asked question:
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/faq/faq02.html

What about Mary's death?

A frequently asked question:
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/faq/faq24.html

What do we know about Mary's life from apocryphal sources?

There are a number of ancient texts not in the canon of Sacred Scripture which claim to present details about the life of Mary. The Protoevangelium Jacobi [First Gospel of James] (ca. 150)...
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/faq/faq05.html

Church Documents

Encyclical MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS by Pope Pius XII

Defining "ex cathedra" (from the chair of Peter) the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P12MUNIF.HTM

Mary and the Church: Assumption (eschatological image)

A list of quotations on the Assumption from post-Vatican II magisterial documents such as this from Lumen Gentium, Chapter 8: "in the Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle (cf. Eph 5:27)" 65
www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/documents/docs4-5.html

What are the Marian dogmas?

There are four Marian dogmas:
1) Divine Motherhood - Council of Ephesus 431
2) Mary's Virginity
a) Virginal Conception through the Spirit - Baptismal symbols since 3rd century.
b) Perpetual Virginity (virginal birth and no other children) - Baptismal symbols since 4th century (first in eastern church)
3) Immaculate Conception (Mary's freedom from original sin) - Pius IX, 1854
4) Mary's Assumption (body and soul) into heaven - Pius XII, 1950
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq186.

Liturgy

  Development of the Liturgical Celebration of the Assumption

It is often stated: As the Church prays, so she believes. The great prayer of the Liturgy aided the development of the doctrine of the Assumption.
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/assmp02.html

A Variety of Customs Associated with the Assumption

A variety of local, regional and national customs are associated with the Feast of the Assumption on and around August 15^th
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/assmp03.html

Which are the Marian feast days?

There are many Marian feast days celebrated in the Catholic Church, but the principal ones are the Solemnity of Mary, the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, the Annunciation, the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception ...
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/faq/faq04.html

Marian Feasts Past and Present

The following feature points to the evolution of Marian Feasts in the recent past. It shows the feasts in vigor before the liturgical reform of 1969, the changes made in 1969, and the further developments of 1986.
www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/dogmas.html

Does the liturgy give us any hints about Mary's life?

Several events concerning Mary's life are commemorated during the yearly liturgical cycles of the Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian Churches.
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/faq/faq03.html

Meditations

An Overview Page

The following overview page gives direct links to assist in varied ways to contemplate Mary’s assumption into heaven. At the end of the links is a select bibliography.
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/assumption.html

Historical Background: Belief in Mary's Assumption

Introduction: Belief that Mary has been taken up and is now in heaven with both her body and her soul has been part of the teaching of the Catholic Church since the earliest centuries of Christianity.
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/assmp01.html

Mother of the New World

The Meaning of the Assumption is that of a culmination and a new beginning. With the Assumption, the promises of the Lord were fulfilled for Mary, and as always, beyond all expectation. … Rev. Johann G. Roten, SM
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/MotherofNewWorld.html

A Reflection on the Feast of the Assumption

The following contribution to Mary Page on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a contemplation on a 15th century Greek Orthodox icon painted by iconographer Andreas Ritzos … by Virginia Kimball
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/kimball.html

Prayerful Reflections on the Assumption

St. Alphonsus de Liguori is one among the saints who writes that Mary died for sheer longing and love of the Savior. Below is a quotation from his seventh discourse, "The Assumption of Mary"
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/assmp05.html

Devotion

Mary's Flowers During the Middle Ages

Includes a section on the custom of bringing herbs for a blessing on the Assumption.
www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/flowers.html

How do religious names of flowers originate?

Includes Assumption lily.
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq209.html

Explain the 'Marian Year' celebrations.

There was a Marian Year in 1950. It coincided with the proclamation of the Dogma of Mary's Assumption by Pope Pius XII.
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq33.html

Why do we call Mary Queen?

Assumption and Coronation must be sharply distinguished.
[See more under Queenship memorial]
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq73

Prayer

The Rosary in Image and Text Meditations Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Includes the Glorious Mysteries and therefore the Assumption
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/rosmed.html
www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/glorious.html

Poetry

Assumption

The following poems celebrate the mystery of Our Lady's Assumption. The reader will also find here poetry which explores the relationship between the season of Summer and the Blessed Virgin's role in salvation history.
www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/poetry/assumpp.html

New Marian Poetry

Includes: Assumpta est Maria en Coelum
www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/poetry/ordinary2001.html

Art

What are the fifteen symbols of the Immaculata represented on the famous tapestry of Our Lady in Reims, France?

The famous tapestry of Our Lady in the Reims Cathedral comprises fifteen tableaux relating the life of Mary.
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq204.html

What is the meaning of the crescent moon that Mary is sometimes pictured standing upon?

Includes: The crescent appears under Mary's feet in paintings of the Assumption (Meister of the Luzien-Legende, 1485) and signifies her glory and victory over time and space.
www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/yq/yq244.html

Bibliography

Bibliography [only of] Articles in Marian Studies

1950 -- Present: Summary List In May 1999, the Mariological Society of America celebrated its fiftieth year as an academic theological society. For each of the fifty years the society published, the papers presented … include work on the Assumption
www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/msarticles.html

Marian Theology Tape 2 [Lecture by Anthony Tambasco], 100 min,1990.

Return to Resources

URL for this page is http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//maryassumption.html