← Assumption of Mary
Rev 12:1-5
“And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars upon her head.…she was with child…and…she brought forth a male child [Jesus], one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.”
Catholic Perspective
While it is true that this passage has many levels of meaning, the primary and literal sense of this text is that this “great sign” [a woman] appearing in heaven in bodily form is Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The biblical foundation of Mary’s assumption into heaven begins in Genesis, where Mary is referred prophetically as the “woman” who with her “seed” (Jesus) will crush the serpent’s (Satan's) head (3:15). References to identifying Mary as this “woman” also appear in Jeremiah 31:22, John 2:1-11, John 19:25-27, Galatians 4:4. This culminates with the apostolic testimony of St. John (Rev. 12), who sees Mary (the woman) in bodily form, already in eternal happiness.
Common Objections
| + | MARY’S ASSUMPTION INTO HEAVEN CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE. |
| + | ONLY CHRIST WILL BE RESURRECTED BEFORE THE SECOND COMING. |
