On August 15, the Catholic Church celebrates the death and assumption of the Virgin Mary, or the day of the Assumption.
According to the tradition that goes back to the ancient church, the Redeemer did not release the body of his mother, Mary, to the mortal world, but resurrected her shortly after her death and took her to heavenly glory.
In Jerusalem in the 5th century, the heavenly birthday of the Blessed Virgin was certainly commemorated. The holiday was called Dormitio sanctae Mariae, i.e. "The Dormition of the Holy Virgin". During the 6th century, the holiday spread throughout the East. Rome adopted it in the 7th century, and from the 8th century it was called Assumptio beatae Mariae, i.e. "assumption of the Blessed Virgin". XII. On November 1, 1950, Pope Piusz proclaimed as an article of faith that "after the end of her earthly career, the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed together with her body and soul into heavenly glory."
King St. István considered Mary's heavenly birthday so important that he recommended Hungary to the protection of the Virgin Mary on this day. That is why we call him the heavenly patron of Hungary, that is, Patrona Hungariae. Saint Stephen died in 1038 on Assumption Day.
Source: MKPK Press Service/ Hungarian Kurír
Featured image: Domenico Ghirlandaio: Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1486–90)
