Greetings on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin!
In the Roman Catholic world this day is
known as the Assumption of Mary. In 1950 Pope Pius XII declared for the church what had been
believed by the faithful for many centuries, that Mary the mother of Jesus, at the time of her death
was taken body and soul into glory. Her body, like Jesus, was placed in a tomb, but at the Council
of Chalcedon in 451, when the Emperor Marcion requested her remains be brought, the tomb was
found empty. St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem at the time, replied to the request saying:
"Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened upon the request
of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up
to heaven."
So that tradition, from those earliest days, spread throughout the church and the faithful believed
Mary was taken body and soul into heaven. So Pope Pius XII declared this widespread belief
a Dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.
This is kind of a big deal, but really it isn't. Mary gets to be the first human being taken body
and soul to glory, but someday all those who love God and neighbor are destined to be body and soul
with God. If this is to be the final result of a faithful life on earth, then it shouldn't be
a surprise that Jesus' mother would be number one!
Now what about Anglicans? We don't declare Dogmas that all members of the church
must believe. Anglicans take, I think, a more ancient path in proclaiming their beliefs:
Prayer is theology. The words we profess in the Book of Common Prayer express our
deepest beliefs. For example, what is the Collect on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin? Does
it express this faith of the church from of old concerning Mary? Judge for
yourself:
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of
your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood,
may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
I love it! No dogma necessary. It's in the prayer! Prayer is theology!
The Reverend John Smith, Vicar
St. Alban Episcopal Mission
Antigua, Guatemala
Peace, love, joy, John+