Washington D.C., Aug 15, 2023 / 02:30 am
On Aug. 15, Catholics around the world mark the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, commemorating the end of her earthly life and assumption into heaven.
But while the feast day is a relatively new one, the history of the holiday — and the mystery behind it — has its roots in the earliest centuries of Christian belief.
The Catholic Church teaches that when Mary’s earthly life ended, God assumed her, body and soul, into heaven.
The dogma of the Assumption of Mary — also called the “Dormition of Mary” in the Eastern Churches — has its roots in the early centuries of the Church.