THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Part 1)

Meaning of Assumption

  

From the Latin  assumptionem,  meaning “a taking or receiving,” assumption was recorded circa 13^th century as a noun describing “the reception of the Virgin Mary into heaven.” The word later shook its religious roots and developed into the noun we hear more often today, usually when a person takes something for granted or literally takes possession of something. But the church still maintains its original meaning to this day.

Word story Expand

The word assumption is a great example of how a word can take on 

new dimensions of meaning over time, while staying true to some  aspect of its original sense. 
assumption has been in the language since the 13th century, and was initially confined to a specific ecclesiastical meaning in the Catholic  Church. The Latin word on which it is based literally means “the action of being taken”

Various uses of assumption.

1.   the act of taking for granted or supposing.

        Synonyms: presumption; presupposition.

2.   the act of taking to or upon oneself.

        Synonyms: acceptance, shouldering. 

3.   the act of taking possession of something:

         the assumption of power.

         Synonyms: seizure, appropriation, usurpation, arrogation.

4.   The act of taking to oneself what he/she is not

         Synonyms: presumptuousness; effrontery, forwardness, gall.

         E.g. He assumes himself to be the best, but he knew nothing.

5.   The taking over of another's form. E.g.  Jesus assumes human form so he could redeem us. Or Holy Ghost assumes the form of a dove.

6.   Ecclesiastical. (often initial capital letter) the bodily taking up into heaven of the Virgin Mary. a feast commemorating this, celebrated by Roman Catholic Church on August 15.

Dogmatic definition

On November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary as a dogma:

                                                             Pope Pius XII declaring the dogma of the Assumption Blessed Mary

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that 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.”

^{Pope Pius XII}