The Catholic Parish of
Saint John Henry Newman

 Covering most of East Leeds

The Assumption

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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. In this dogmatic statement, the phrase "having completed the course of her earthly life," leaves open the question of whether the Virgin Mary died before her Assumption, or, whether she was assumed before death; both possibilities are allowed. Mary's Assumption is said to have been a divine gift to Mary as 'Mother of God' and that, as Mary completed her life as a shining example to the human race, the perspective of the gift of assumption is offered to the whole human race. 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. Since the declaration of Papal Infallibility by Vatican I in 1870, this declaration by Pius XII has been the only ex cathedra use of Papal Infallibility.



Published Sun 14th Aug 2016 13:17:00
Last Modified on Sun 14th Aug 2016 13:17:00

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