Assumption of Mary
Latin assumere, "to take up"
Definition
The dogma that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory.
Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption in 1950: "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" (CCC 966).
The dogma does not specify whether Mary died first; Eastern Christians celebrate the same event as the Dormition ("falling asleep"). The Assumption is a foretaste of the resurrection promised to all believers. The feast is August 15.