Immaculate Conception and Assumption

The Immaculate Conception

The doctrine does not refer to Christ's conception without a human father, nor to Mary being conceived by the Holy Spirit. Original sin is the lack of sanctifying grace, and its stain is a corrupt nature. Mary was preserved from both: from the first instant she was in a state of sanctifying grace.

An implicit reference is the angel's greeting, "Hail, full of grace" (Luke 1:28). "Full of grace" translates kecharitomene, a perfect passive participle of charitoo, "to fill or endow with grace." The perfect tense indicates grace given in the past with continuing effect: it did not begin with the angel's visit, and Catholics hold it extended from her conception.

Protestant objections

• "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:47). Mary did need a Savior. As a descendant of Adam she would have contracted original sin, but God preserved her from it at her conception. She was redeemed by anticipation. A man pulled out of a pit is saved; a woman held back from falling in is saved in a better way. She was "redeemed in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son" (CCC 492).
• "All have sinned" (Romans 3:23). Children below the age of reason cannot commit sin. Paul either means the mass of mankind, excluding special cases such as Jesus and Mary, or he means everyone is subject to original sin, which Mary was due to contract but was preserved from.
• Sinlessness would make her equal to God. Adam, Eve and the angels were created sinless, and the souls in heaven are sinless, yet none is God.

Pius IX defined the doctrine in 1854. It was not invented then. Doctrines are defined when a controversy needs settling or when the Magisterium (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:11) judges emphasis will help the faithful; Pius IX hoped to inspire devotion to Mary.

The Assumption

At the end of her earthly life Mary was taken body and soul into heaven, as Enoch, Elijah and perhaps others had been. She did not "ascend" by her own power as Christ did; she was taken up. The Church has not defined whether she died, though nearly all hold she did. Pius XII defined in Munificentissimus Deus (1950) that "after the completion of her earthly life" she was assumed body and soul into heaven.

A bodily assumption before the Second Coming is suggested by the saints raised at Christ's resurrection (Matthew 27:52-53). Early writers record that they were taken to heaven, or to the paradise where the Old Testament righteous awaited Christ (see Luke 16:22; 23:43; Hebrews 11:1-40; 1 Peter 4:6).

No remains

From the start Christians honored the saints and prized their relics; Rome holds the tombs of Peter and Paul. Mary ended her life in Jerusalem or perhaps Ephesus, yet no city ever claimed her bones, though some claim her temporary tomb. Apparently there were no bones to claim.

Fittingness and necessity

The Fathers and Doctors found the Assumption fitting because of Mary's sinlessness, divine motherhood, perpetual virginity and, above all, her union with Christ's saving work. The ark of the covenant, holding the manna, the tablets and Aaron's staff, was made of incorruptible wood (Psalm 132:8); Mary, the new ark, carried the true bread from heaven, the Word of God and the High Priest. More than fitting: if she was immaculately conceived, she would not suffer the corruption of the grave, a consequence of sin (Genesis 3:17, 19).

Mary freely cooperated in salvation (Luke 1:38; Galatians 4:4) and shared her Son's sufferings (Luke 2:35); those who share his sufferings share his glory (Romans 8:17). All Christians will be raised and made immaculate (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 21:27). As the first to say yes to the gospel, Mary received early what we will all receive.

Not in the Bible?

That these doctrines are not explicit in Scripture raises the separate question of sola scriptura. The Church may define a doctrine not explicit in Scripture so long as it does not contradict it. Christ commissioned the Church to teach infallibly (John 14:26; 16:13), so its definitive teaching is guaranteed true (see Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 10:16; 1 Timothy 3:15).