August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Feast of Hope for All
On August 15, the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the moment when Mary was taken up into Heaven, body and soul, by God. For Christians, Mary is the first human being to enter fully into God’s eternal glory, without experiencing bodily corruption after death.
Although the Gospels do not mention this event directly, the belief is very ancient and was already celebrated by the early Christians in the East. It was Pope Pius XII who, on November 1, 1950, formally defined the Assumption of Mary as a dogma of faith.
Contemplating the mystery of the Assumption renews the certainty that humanity’s ultimate destiny is Heaven—where we are called to share in the Trinitarian life alongside Jesus, following the example of Mary.
Assumption and Ascension: What’s the Difference?
The two terms are similar but refer to different events.
The Assumption refers to Mary’s being taken up into Heaven. The word comes from the Latin assumere, meaning “to take with oneself”: it is God who takes Mary to Himself, body and soul, as a special privilege for having carried and lovingly accompanied His Son, Jesus.
The Ascension, on the other hand, refers to Jesus’ rising to Heaven 40 days after His Resurrection. The word comes from the Latin ascendere, meaning “to rise”: it is the Risen Christ Himself who initiates His return to the Father, after promising His disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For Catholics, Mary received a unique privilege: she was spared from final judgment and was assumed into Heaven, body and soul, by God Himself.
Because she was preserved from original sin through the mystery of the Immaculate Conception, her body was also spared from the decay of death and was raised to heavenly glory.
Eastern Christians, however, prefer to speak of the Dormition rather than the Assumption.
For the Orthodox, Mary “fell asleep” in death. She experienced death like all human beings, sharing the fate of every person, but her passing to God was filled with peace and grace—like a “gentle falling asleep” before entering eternal life.