Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A feast day in the Roman Catholic Church: The Assumption of Mary commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken body and soul into heaven. This event is not described in the Bible but is a long-held tradition and dogma of the Church.

Usage

• The term Assumption of Mary is used specifically to refer to the religious event and its annual feast day celebration.
• It is always capitalized as it is a proper noun referring to a specific theological event and feast.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The parish will hold a special Mass for the Assumption of Mary on August 15th.
  • The doctrine of the Assumption of Mary was formally defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Advanced Usage

• "The Feast of the Assumption": A common alternative name for the same celebration.
  • In many countries, the Feast of the Assumption is a public holiday.

Variants and Related Words

• Assumption (capitalized): When used alone in a religious context, it often refers specifically to the Assumption of Mary.
  • The painting depicts the Assumption.
• Dormition (noun): The corresponding feast in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, which emphasizes Mary's "falling asleep" before being assumed into heaven.
• Solemnity of the Assumption (noun phrase): The full liturgical title for the feast day.

Synonyms

• Feast of the Assumption: A direct synonym for the celebration day.
• Dormition: While not identical in theological emphasis, it refers to the same event in Eastern Christian tradition.

Related Phrases

• Assumed into heaven: The verbal phrase describing the action.
  • Catholics believe Mary was assumed into heaven.

Noun

1. celebration in the Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary's being taken up into heaven when her earthly life ended; corresponds to the Dormition in the Eastern Orthodox Church