The Blessed Virgin Mary Was Taken Into Heaven

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

There is an important distinction between the meaning of the words “ascension” and “assumption”. The Lord Jesus ascended – went up – to Heaven while the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed – taken up – into Heaven. The Lord went up by His own power as the Son of God, whereas Mary, His Mother, as a daughter of Eve – a human being like all of us except Immaculate (without any sin whatsoever) was carried soul and body by the grace and power of God to the Heavenly realm.

While the distinction is a very basic linguistic and catechetical point that should be learned early on, it contains a profound lesson that takes our whole lives to learn adequately and live out properly.

It is that God is the One Who initiates, carries through and brings to completion, our sanctification and salvation! Not, of course, without our free cooperation, following the principle that God does nothing in us or to us without us! “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without Me you can do nothing.” (cf Jn 15:5)

It is not a question of passivity or quietism or even just pure faith that is suggested, for we must do what the Lord inspires and asks of us in keeping His commandments and abiding in Him. Yet, even to want to know and be able to complete His will is a gift of grace from Him! He must support and provide for us, and it is why He constantly asks us to trust in Him.

Our sanctification and eventual glorification is as it was for the most holy human person who ever lived on earth – the Blessed Virgin Mary – the work of God ‘who has done great things for me and Holy is His Name’! The Lord wants our salvation, but we have to say like the Blessed Virgin, ‘Behold, I am the son or daughter of the Handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to Your Word’!

As we celebrate this month the wonderful Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may the Queen of Heaven and Earth obtain for us from the Lord the desire, grace, and strength we need to do His will in all things, love Him with our whole hearts and our neighbor as He has loved us, to trust His Providence in all circumstances, and thus one day be taken up to the glory of Heaven!