Assumption of Mary

“Assunta” redirects here. For the hospital in Malaysia, early as the 3rd century. Also quite early are the very see Assunta Hospital. diﬀerent traditions of the “Six Books” Dormition narra- “Santa Maria Assunta” redirects here. For churches with tives.[12] The earliest versions of this apocryphon are pre- this dedication, see Santa Maria Assunta (churches). served by several Syriac manuscripts of the 5th and 6th This article is about the theological concept. For works centuries, although the text itself probably belongs to the of art with this title, see Assumption of the Virgin Mary 4th century.[13][14][15] in Art.

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, in- formally known as the Assumption, according to the be- liefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of Anglicanism, was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Vir- gin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.[1] This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus by exercising papal infallibility.[2] While the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church believe in the Dormition of the Theotokos, which is the same as the Assumption,[3] the alleged physical death of Mary has not been dogmatically defined. In Munificentissimus Deus (item 39) Pope Pius XII pointed to the Book of Genesis (3:15) as scriptural support for the dogma in terms of Mary’s victory over sin and death as also reflected in 1 Corinthians 15:54: “then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory”.[4][5][6] In the churches that observe it, the Assumption is a major feast day, commonly celebrated on August 15. In many countries the feast is also marked as a Holy Day of Obli- gation.

Assumption statue, 1808 by Mariano Gerada, Ghaxaq, Malta

1 History of the belief Later apocrypha based on these earlier texts include the De Obitu S. Dominae,[16] attributed to St. John, a work Although the Assumption (Latin: assumptio, “a taking”) probably from around the turn of the 6th century that was only relatively recently deﬁned as infallible dogma is a summary of the “Six Books” narrative. The story by the Catholic Church, and in spite of a statement by also appears in De Transitu Virginis,[17] a late 5th cen- Saint Epiphanius of Salamis in AD 377 that no one knew tury work ascribed to St. Melito of Sardis that presents a whether Mary had died or not,[7] apocryphal accounts theologically redacted summary of the traditions in the of the assumption of Mary into heaven have circulated Liber Requiei Mariae. The Transitus Mariae tells the since at least the 4th century. The Catholic Church it- story of the apostles being transported by white clouds self interprets chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation as to the deathbed of Mary, each from the town where he referring to it.[8][9][10][11] Probably composed by the 4th was preaching at the hour. The Decretum Gelasianum in century, this Christian apocryphal narrative may be as the 490s declared some transitus Mariae literature apoc-

1 2 2 CATHOLIC TEACHING

ryphal. our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and An Armenian letter attributed to Dionysus the Areopagite define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that also mentions the event, although this is a much later the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Vir- work, written sometime after the 6th century. John gin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into of Damascus, from this period, is the first church au- [23] thority to advocate the doctrine under his own name. heavenly glory. His contemporaries, Gregory of Tours and Modestus of Jerusalem, helped promote the concept to the wider Pope Pius XII deliberately left open the question of church. whether Mary died before her Assumption.[24][25] In some versions of the story the event is said to have Before the dogmatic definition, in Deiparae Virginis taken place in Ephesus, in the House of the Virgin Mary, Mariae Pope Pius XII sought the opinion of Catholic although this is a much more recent and localized tradi- Bishops and a large number of them pointed to the Book tion. The earliest traditions all locate the end of Mary’s of Genesis (3:15) as scriptural support for the dogma.[4] life in Jerusalem (see extquotedblMary’s Tomb extquot- In Munificentissimus Deus (item 39) Pius XII referred to edbl). By the 7th century a variation emerged, accord- the “struggle against the infernal foe” as in Genesis 3:15 ing to which one of the apostles, often identified as St and to “complete victory over the sin and death” as in the Thomas, was not present at the death of Mary, but his late Letters of Paul as a scriptural basis for the dogmatic defi- arrival precipitates a reopening of Mary’s tomb, which is nition, Mary being assumed to heaven as in 1 Corinthians found to be empty except for her grave clothes. In a later 15:54: “then shall come to pass the saying that is written, tradition, Mary drops her girdle down to the apostle from Death is swallowed up in victory”.[4][5][6] heaven as testament to the event.[18] This incident is de- picted in many later paintings of the Assumption. 2.2 Theological issues Teaching of the Assumption of Mary became widespread across the Christian world, having been celebrated as early as the 5th century and having been established in the East by Emperor Maurice around AD 600.[19] It was celebrated in the West under Pope Sergius I in the 8th century and Pope Leo IV then confirmed the feast as official.[19] Theological debate about the Assumption continued, following the Reformation, climaxing in 1950 when Pope Pius XII defined it as dogma for the Catholic Church.[20] Catholic theologian Ludwig Ott stated, “The idea of the bodily assumption of Mary is first expressed in certain transitus-narratives of the fifth and sixth centuries.... The first Church author to speak of the bodily assumption of Mary, in association with an apocryphal transitus B.M.V., is St. Gregory of Tours.”[21] The Catholic writer Eamon Duffy states that “there is, clearly, no historical evidence whatever for it.”[22] How- ever, the Catholic Church has never asserted nor denied that its teaching is based on the apocryphal accounts. The Church documents are silent on this matter and instead rely upon other sources and arguments as the basis for the doctrine.

2 Catholic teaching

2.1 Dogmatic definition Our Lady of Assumption, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. In Pius XII’s dogmatic statement, the phrase “having On November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution completed the course of her earthly life,” leaves open the Munificentissimus Deus Pope Pius XII declared the As- question of whether the Virgin Mary died before her assumption of Mary as a dogma: sumption or whether she was assumed before death; both possibilities are allowed. Mary’s assumption is said to By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, have been a divine gift to her as the 'Mother of God'. of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by Ludwig Ott’s view is that, as Mary completed her life as a 2.3 Scriptural basis 3 shining example to the human race, the perspective of the theologians to exercise their rational faculties and arrive gift of assumption is offered to the whole human race.[26] at a conclusion on the truth of divine grace working in the [28] In Ludwig Ott’s Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma he creatures. states that “the fact of her death is almost generally ac- cepted by the Fathers and Theologians, and is expressly 2.3 Scriptural basis affirmed in the Liturgy of the Church”, to which he ad- duces a number of helpful citations, and concludes that In Munificentissimus Deus, near the end of the review of “for Mary, death, in consequence of her freedom from the doctrine’s history, Pope Pius XII stated : “All these original sin and from personal sin, was not a consequence [27] proofs and considerations of the holy Fathers and the the- of punishment of sin. However, it seems fitting that ologians are based upon the Sacred Writings as their ulti- Mary’s body, which was by nature mortal, should be, in mate foundation.”, precedent to this, he cited many pas- conformity with that of her Divine Son, subject to the sages that have been offered in support of this teaching. general law of death”.[27] The pope cited 1st Corinthians 15. In this passage Paul The point of her bodily death has not been infallibly de- alludes to Genesis 3:15 (in addition to the primary refer- fined, and many believe that she did not die at all, but ence of Psalms 8:6), where it is prophesied that the seed was assumed directly into Heaven. The dogmatic defini- of the woman will crush Satan with his feet. Since, then, tion within the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Jesus arose to Heaven to fulfill this prophecy, it follows Deus which, according to Roman Catholic dogma, infalli- that the woman would have a similar end, since she shared bly proclaims the doctrine of the Assumption leaves open this enmity with Satan. the question whether, in connection with her departure, Mary underwent bodily death; that is, it does not dog- The pope also mentioned (in paragraph 26) Psalm 132, matically define the point one way or the other, as shown a psalm commemorating the return of the Ark of God to by the words “having completed the course of her earthly Jerusalem and lamenting its subsequent loss. The second life”.[20] half of the psalm says that the loss will be recompensed in the New Covenant, and so it is hopefully prayed, “Arise, The debate on the theme of the physical death of Blessed O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which Virgin Mary at the end of the temporal sojourn or on the thou hast sanctified” (v. 8). Since the Church sees this dissolution of her physical body is not always called for. New Covenant ark in Mary, it understands that she was The Christian faith does not depend merely on probabili- taken into Heaven in the same manner as the Lord – that ties to relate or confirm the truth of Revelation. The bible is, body and soul. calls her “full of grace.” It is not even the instinctual feel- ing of man that made man believe that she is a creature Finally, he mentioned in the next paragraph “that woman with such an exalted destination. It does not need proof clothed with the sun [Revelation 12:1–2] whom John the to say that God is holy, just, love and truth; that those Apostle contemplated on the Island of Patmos” as support he sanctifies and justifies he has also invited to the divine for the doctrine. chamber, as St Paul explains. Mary cannot normally be denied what God freely gave to all his children. More so, Sin and the process of satisfaction of the temporal de- 3 Assumption vs. Dormition mands of justice for the harm perpetrated by unworthy dispositions and actions delay the beatific vision of the The Latin Catholic Feast of the Assumption is celebrated individual human person and provoke the dissolution of on August 15, and the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern the physical structure. Jesus made his mother the temple Catholics celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos (the of the Holy Spirit and a worthy habitation for his incarna- falling asleep of the Mother of God) on the same date, tion. It is absurd to imagine that what sins Mary did not preceded by a 14-day fast period. Eastern Christians be- commit before receiving Christ in the flesh (being full of lieve that Mary died a natural death, that her soul was grace), she began to entertain after the incarnation. Mary received by Christ upon death, and that her body was res- was made holy by divine providence, for the go-with-me urrected on the third day after her death and that she was vocation she is invited to do by her Son. The same son taken up into heaven bodily in anticipation of the general took her to himself when he has made ready her heav- resurrection. Her tomb was found empty on the third day. enly seat, after the good fight. Let the Christian rejoice extquotedbl...Orthodox tradition is clear and unwavering that the mother of the Redeemer is already sitting in the in regard to the central point [of the Dormition]: the Holy happiness that knows no end, in undefiled body and un- Virgin underwent, as did her Son, a physical death, but tainted soul. Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic statement: “hav- her body – like His – was afterwards raised from the dead ing completed the course of her earthly life,” which is and she was taken up into heaven, in her body as well as apparently silent on the argument of whether the Blessed in her soul. She has passed beyond death and judgement, Virgin Mary died and later was awakened is not a state- and lives wholly in the Age to Come. The Resurrection ment of doubt or omission. It is rather a statement that of the Body ... has in her case been anticipated and is presumes the obvious. it is a saving phrase that allows already an accomplished fact. That does not mean, how- 4 6 FEASTS

United States of America, the day is observed as the holy day of 'Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ'.[34] In the Church of England the day is a Festival of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In some churches of the Anglican Communion and the Continuing Anglican churches, many Anglo-Catholics observe the feast day as the Assumption. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission agreed statement on the Virgin Mary assigns a place for both the Dormition and the Assumption in Anglican devotion.[35]

5 Protestant views

The Protestant Reformer Heinrich Bullinger believed in the assumption of Mary. His 1539 polemical treatise against idolatry[36] expressed his belief that Mary’s sacrosanctum corpus (“sacrosanct body”) had been assumed The Dormition: ivory plaque, late 10th-early 11th century into heaven by angels: (Musée de Cluny).

Hac causa credimus ut Deiparae virginis ever, that she is dissociated from the rest of humanity and Mariae purissimum thalamum et spiritus sancti placed in a wholly different category: for we all hope to templum, hoc est, sacrosanctum corpus ejus de- share one day in that same glory of the Resurrection of portatum esse ab angelis in coelum.[37] the Body which she enjoys even now.”[29] For this reason we believe that the Virgin Mary, Begetter of God, the most pure bed and Many Catholics also believe that Mary first died before temple of the Holy Spirit, that is, her most holy being assumed, but they add that she was miraculously body, was carried to heaven by angels.[38] resurrected before being assumed, while others believe she was assumed bodily into Heaven without first pass- ing through death.[30][31] As mentioned earlier, this as- Most modern Protestants neither teach nor believe in the pect of the Assumption is not authoritatively defined in Assumption of Mary, as they see no Biblical basis for it. Catholic theology, and either understanding may be le- Although most churches within Lutheranism do not teach gitimately held by Catholics. Eastern Catholics observe the Assumption of Mary, August 15 is a Lesser Feast in the Feast as the Dormition. Many theologians note by celebration of “Mary, Mother of Our Lord”, according to way of comparison that in the Catholic Church, the As- the Calendar of Saints.[39][40] sumption is dogmatically defined, while in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Dormition is less dogmatically than liturgically and mystically defined. Such differences 6 Feasts spring from a larger pattern in the two traditions, wherein Catholic teachings are often dogmatically and authoritatively defined – in part because of the more centralized The Assumption is important to many Catholic and Or- structure of the Catholic Church– while in Eastern Or- thodox Christians as the Virgin Mary’s heavenly birth- thodoxy, many doctrines are less authoritative.[32] day (the day that Mary was received into Heaven). Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen by them as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all endur- ing Christians that they too will be received into paradise. 4 Anglican views The Assumption of Mary is symbolised in the Fleur-de- lys Madonna. Although the Assumption of Mary is not an Anglican The feast of the Assumption is a public holiday in many doctrine, 15 August is observed by some within Angli- countries, including Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, canism as a holy day in honour of Mary. The Book of Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, France, Germany (Bavaria Common Prayer in the versions of the Scottish Episco- and Saarland only), Greece, Lebanon, Lithuania, Italy, pal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada mark the Malta, Mauritius,[41] Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sene- date as a commemoration of 'The Falling Asleep of the gal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland (8 cantons only) and Blessed Virgin Mary'.[33] In the Episcopal Church in the Vanuatu.[42] In Eastern Orthodox churches following the 5

Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tahiti, Togo, and Vanuatu.[42] It is also a holiday in some predomi- nantly Catholic states of Germany, including Bavaria and Saarland. In Guatemala it is observed in Guatemala City and in the town of Santa Maria Nebaj, both of which claim her as their patron saint. Also, this day is combined with Mother’s Day in Costa Rica and parts of Belgium. In many places, religious parades and popular festivals are held to celebrate this day. Prominent Catholic and Ortho- dox countries in which Assumption day is an important festival but is not recognized by the state as a public holiday include Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and Russia. In Canada, Assump- tion Day is the Fête Nationale of the Acadians, of whom she is the patron saint. Businesses close on that day in heavily francophone parts of New Brunswick, Canada. The Virgin Assumed in Heaven is also patroness of the Maltese Islands and her feast, celebrated on 15 August, apart from being a public holiday in Malta is also celebrated with great solemnity in all the local churches es- pecially in the seven localities known as the Seba' Santa Marijiet. In Anglicanism and Lutheranism, the feast is kept, but without oﬃcial use of the word “Assumption”. In the Armenian tradition, a cultural custom of blessing of the grapes is annually observed each August 12 in religious commemoration of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

7 See also

• Possibly the most famous rendition of the subject in Western art, Ascension of Jesus Titian's Assunta (1516–18). • Assumption Cathedral

• Immaculate Conception Julian Calendar, the feast day of Assumption of Mary falls on August 28. 8 References The present Italian name of the holiday, “Ferragosto”, may derive from the Latin name, Feriae Augusti (“Holi- days of the Emperor Augustus extquotedbl),[43] since the [1] Pope Pius XII: extquotedblMunificentissimus Deus - Defining the Dogma of the Assumption”, par. 44. Vat- month of August took its name from the emperor. The ican, November 1, 1950 Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15 was celebrated in the eastern Church from the 6th Century. The [2] Encyclopedia of Catholicism by Frank K. Flinn, J. Gordon Catholic Church adopted this date as a Holy Day of Obli- Melton 207 ISBN 0-8160-5455-X page 267 gation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed [3] Munificentissimus Deus, 17 In the liturgical books which Virgin Mary, the real physical elevation of her sinless soul deal with the feast either of the dormition or of the As- and incorrupt body into Heaven. sumption of the Blessed Virgin there are expressions that The Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15 is a pub- agree in testifying that, when the Virgin Mother of God lic holiday in many countries, including Andorra, Aus- passed from this earthly exile to heaven, what happened to tria, Belgium, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Re- her sacred body was, by the decree of divine Providence, public, Chile, Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croa- in keeping with the dignity of the Mother of the Word Incarnate, and with the other privileges she had been ac- tia, Colombia, Cyprus, East Timor, France, Gabon, corded. Greece, Republic of Guinea, Haiti, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Mada- [4] Introduction to Mary by Mark Miravalle (1993) Queen- gascar, Malta, Mauritius, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, ship Pub. Co. ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 pages 75-78 6 8 REFERENCES

[5] Paul Haﬀner in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Dea- [27] Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ludwig Ott, Book III, cons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons (2008) ISBN Pt. 3, Ch. 2, §6, ISBN 0-89555-009-1 9781579183554 edited by M. Miravalle, pages 328-350 [28] Celestine C. Homily 2013 [6] Apostolic Constitution Muniﬁcentissimus Deus item 39at the Vatican web site [29] Bishop Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, in: Festal Menaion [7] Epiphanius, Panarion, Haer. 78.10–11, 23 [London: Faber and Faber, 1969], p. 64.

[8] Aanguage|Ethiopic]] translation. [30] The Catholicism Answer Book: The 300 Most Frequently Asked Questions by John Trigilio, Kenneth Brighenti 2007 [9] Stephen J. Shoemaker, Ancient Traditions of the Virgin ISBN 1-4022-0806-5 page 64 Mary’s Dormition and Assumption

[10] “Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and [31] The Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption”. Oup.com. 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2013- Assumption by Stephen J. Shoemaker 2006 ISBN 0-19- 11-03. 921074-8 page 201

[11] (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002, 2006). A com- [32] See Three Sermons on the Dormition of the Virgin by plete translation of this earliest text appears at pp. 290– John of Damascus, from the Medieval Sourcebook 350 [33] “The Calendar [page ix] extquotedbl. Prayerbook.ca. Re- [12] extquotedbl extquotedblSix Books” Dormition narratives” trieved 2013-11-03. (PDF). Retrieved 2013-11-03.

[13] William Wright, “The Departure of my Lady Mary from [34] Sheena Lawrence. “The Calendar of the Church Year”. this World,” Sheena.home.mindspring.com. Retrieved 2013-11-03.

[14] “The Departure of my Lady Mary from this World,” [35] “Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ”. Vatican.va. 2000-06- (PDF). Retrieved 2013-11-03. 26. Retrieved 2013-11-03.

[15] The Journal of Sacred Literature and Biblical Record, 6 [36] De origine erroris libri duo (On the Origin of Error, Two (1865): 417–48 and 7 (1865): 108–60. See also Agnes Books) . “In the De origine erroris in divorum ac sim- Smith Lewis, ed., Apocrypha Syriaca, Studia Sinaitica, XI ulachrorum cultu he opposed the worship of the saints (London: C. J. Clay and Sons, 1902). and iconolatry; in the De origine erroris in negocio Eu- [16] “De Obitu S. Dominae”. Uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2013- charistiae ac Missae he strove to show that the Catholic 11-03. conceptions of the Eucharist and of celebrating the Mass were wrong. Bullinger published a combined edition of [17] “De Transitu Virginis”. Uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2013- these works in 4 ° (Zurich 1539), which was divided into 11-03. two books, according to themes of the original work.” The Library of the Finnish nobleman, royal secretary and [18] Ante-Nicene Fathers - The Writings of the Fathers Down trustee Henrik Matsson (ca. 1540-1617), Terhi Kiiski- to A.D. 325, vol. 8 page 594 nen Helsinki: Academia Scientarium Fennica (Finnish Academy of Science), 2003, ISBN 951-41-0944-9 ISBN [19] Butler’s Lives of the Saints by Alban Butler, Paul Burns 9789514109447, p. 175 1998 ISBN 0860122573 pages 140-141

[20] “Apostolic Constitution Muniﬁcentissimus Deus, no 44”. [37] De origine erroris, Caput XVI (Chapter 16), p. 70 (thumb- Vatican.va. Retrieved 2013-11-03. nail 146)

[21] Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (Rockford: [38] The Thousand Faces of the Virgin Mary (1996), George Tan, 1974), pp. 209–210 H. Tavard, Liturgical Press ISBN 0-8146-5914-4 ISBN 9780814659144, p. 109. [22] Eamon Duffy, What Catholics Believe About Mary (Lon- don: Catholic Truth Society, 1989), p. 17 [39] “Mary, Mother of Our Lord”. Liturgybytlw.com. Re- [23] Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus item 44 at trieved 2013-11-03. the Vatican web site [40] “St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord”. Wmltblog.org. 2011- [24] As the Virgin Mary remained an ever-virgin and sin- 08-15. Retrieved 2013-11-03. less, it is viewed that the Virgin Mary could not thus suffer the consequences of Original Sin, which is [41] “Mauritius public holidays 2012”. Retrieved 28 January chiefly Death. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3819. 2012. htm Nicea II Session 6 Decree

[25] “Nicaea II Deﬁnition, “without blemish” a EWTN”. [42] Columbus World Travel Guide, 25th Edition Ewtn.com. Retrieved 2013-11-03. [43] Pianigiani, Ottorino (1907). “Vocabolario etimologico [26] Ludwig Ott’s Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, pp250 ﬀ della lingua italiana”. 7

9 Bibliography

• Duggan, Paul E. (1989). The Assumption Dogma: Some Reactions and Ecumenical Implications in the Thought of English-speaking Theologians. Emerson Press, Cleveland, Ohio • Shoemaker, Stephen J. (2002, 2006). Ancient Tra- ditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assump- tion. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19- 925075-8 (Hardcover 2004, Reprint), ISBN 0-19- 921074-8 (Paperback 2006)

10 External links

• extquotedblMuniﬁcentissimus Deus - Deﬁning the Dogma of the Assumption” Vatican, November 1, 1950

• Early Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption a collection of early Dormition and As- sumption narratives with introductions 8 11 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

11 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

11.1 Text

• Assumption of Mary Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_Mary?oldid=625145228 Contributors: Wesley, Rmhermen, Olivier, Someone else, Michael Hardy, Paul Barlow, Menchi, Gaurav, Docu, Evercat, Vargenau, JASpencer, Alex S, Choster, Dogface, Joy, Slawojarek, Altenmann, Wikibot, JackofOz, Wayland, Fabiform, Tom harrison, Bradeos Graphon, Varlaam, Jason Quinn, Andy- cjp, BozMo, Billposer, Xandar, Gary D, Didactohedron, Ultratomio, Rich Farmbrough, Guanabot, LindsayH, Mikkel, Dbachmann, Swid, El C, Lima, Art LaPella, Just zis Guy, you know?, Rlaager, Bobo192, FoekeNoppert, Man vyi, Matrona, Storm Rider, Snowolf, Garzo, Theltalpha, Sciurinæ, Ghirlandajo, Jgofborg, Angr, Woohookitty, Scriberius, Pol098, Matijap, Bbatsell, GregorB, Newcrusade, Bren- danconway, Sparkit, BD2412, Ciroa, Josh Parris, Rjwilmsi, Coemgenus, Koavf, HappyCamper, Afterwriting, SchuminWeb, GJ, Gurch, Str1977, Vilcxjo, DTOx, Tone, EamonnPKeane, Roboto de Ajvol, Mercury McKinnon, YurikBot, Hairy Dude, Carolynparrishfan, Brand- meister (old), RussBot, Red Slash, Pigman, Cate, Gaius Cornelius, Wimt, NawlinWiki, Stijn Calle, Arouck, Mamathomas, Contaldo80, JLaTondre, Katieh5584, Madlobster, PhilVaz, Elliskev, Trevorloflin, Attilios, SmackBot, Hydrogen Iodide, KocjoBot, Tracy Hall, Ssbohio, AtilimGunesBaydin, Used2BAnonymous, Alsandro, Mvalolo, Ekilfeather, Ohnoitsjamie, Chaojoker, Carl.bunderson, Bluebot, Joefaust, Ronconte, Emufarmers, Balin42632003, Royboycrashfan, Aquarius Rising, OrphanBot, WikiCats, Phaedriel, Lessthanthree, Kendrick7, Springnuts, Qasinka, L337p4wn, SashatoBot, Ian Spackman, Livius, NongBot, RandomCritic, For great justice., Neddyseagoon, Epi- phyllumlover, Ginkgo100, Toddsschneider, Joseph Solis in Australia, Delta x, Constantinodd, Courcelles, Briancua, InfernoXV, Geremia, Rwflammang, 5-HT8, Vaquero100, Cydebot, Elstan, Palmleaf, Miguel de Servet, Nasugbu batangas, Gimmetrow, Thijs!bot, Marek69, Missvain, Porfirju, JustAGal, X96lee15, PaulVIF, Oreo Priest, Mentifisto, SummerPhD, Antique Rose, Lonestar662p3, JAnDbot, MER-C, Paul Marshall, Magioladitis, CTF83!, Waacstats, Aikatir, Mlgarcia, Mtd2006, CommonsDelinker, Laleena, Sidhekin, It Is Me Here, John- bod, LPLT, Idioma-bot, Funandtrvl, Morenooso, TallNapoleon, Jeff G., Dominics Fire, Davylightning, Mitterndorfer, Drex15, BotKung, Draceane, Peeperman, Synthebot, Joseph A. Spadaro, Falcon8765, VanishedUserABC, Benz74, Struway, Ric macDLS, SieBot, StAnselm, Tresiden, WereSpielChequers, Anglicanus, Oda Mari, Mimihitam, Oxymoron83, Faradayplank, Ptolemy Caesarion, MiNombreDeGuerra, Seedbot, Li4kata, Lascorz, ClueBot, Mccara, EoGuy, Shark96z, Thekmt, GreenGourd, Coinmanj, M.O.X, Elizium23, John Paul Parks, Crnorizec, Njbiker1000, Editor2020, DumZiBoT, Ambrosius007, Delicious carbuncle, Facts707, Ilikepie2221, Skarebo, Alexius08, Lem- mey, D.M. from Ukraine, Addbot, Jojhutton, CanadianLinuxUser, Leszek Jańczuk, Ka Faraq Gatri, Glass Sword, Rtadopaw, Lightbot, Bannermankaye, Dreamrabbit, Luckas-bot, Yobot, THEN WHO WAS PHONE?, Theology10101, Mpakaluk, AnomieBOT, Campbellg, Marauder40, Jim1138, Galoubet, Taam, Bluerasberry, Materialscientist, Audeamus.fiat, Testus, RealityApologist, Erud, Capricorn42, *feridiák, Ute in DC, RibotBOT, Amaury, Alexandru Stanoi, Eugene-elgato, Hippy180, Haldraper, Prari, KuroiShiroi, Squire of the Infer- nal Knight-Lord of Penguins, Anthony on Stilts, DrilBot, Nemethyd, Edderso, 10metreh, KaiserJoeIII, Americanman095, Cusio, , Kgrad, Vertistar, BeneharoMencey, Sirkablaam, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, Beyond My Ken, In ictu oculi, EmausBot, WikitanvirBot, Hankharu, Severe Punishment, Slightsmile, Wikipelli, DoctorDonStewart, Zolokin, TyA, Mr.awsome4567, Willthacheerleader18, ChuispastonBot, Boyd r, ClueBot NG, Kingroyos, Fabio concepcion, Mannanan51, Hbotfan, MerlIwBot, Helpful Pixie Bot, BG19bot, Lamusta94, Marco- capelle, Oct13, Jgp44, BattyBot, LoveforMary, RichardMills65, Fudgybear123, HeartyBowl1989, QvisDevs, Purplemuffintop, Wlbw68, LukasMatt, Whoisdiss and Anonymous: 338

11.2 Images

• File:046CupolaSPietro.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/046CupolaSPietro.jpg License: CC-BY-SA- 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: MarkusMark • File:Baroque_Rubens_Assumption-of-Virgin-3.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Baroque_ Rubens_Assumption-of-Virgin-3.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork Original artist: Peter Paul Rubens • File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_Holy_See.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Coat_of_arms_Holy_See.svg License: Public domain Contributors: • Bruno Bernhard Heim, Heraldry in the Catholic Church: Its Origin, Customs and Laws (Van Duren 1978 ISBN 9780391008731), p. 54; Original artist: F l a n k e r • File:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:Dormition_de_la_Vierge.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Dormition_de_la_Vierge.JPG Li- cense: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:Emblem_of_the_Holy_See_usual.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Emblem_of_the_Holy_See_ usual.svg License: CC0 Contributors: • Keys: File:Sede_vacante.svg Original artist: Gambo7 • File:Kruis_san_damiano.gif Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Kruis_san_damiano.gif License: Public domain Contributors: http://www.hyvinkaanseurakunta.fi/filebank/376-Risti_6_B.jpg Original artist: Unknown • File:LaPurisimaInmaculadaConcepciondeRibera.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/ LaPurisimaInmaculadaConcepciondeRibera.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Lloydbaltazar 11.3 Content license 9

• File:Mary-header.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Mary-header.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Con- tributors: Own work Original artist: Jayarathina • File:Saintmaryghaxaq.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Saintmaryghaxaq.JPG License: CC-BY-SA- 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Vertistar • File:Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_Perpetual_Help,_San_Luis_Potosi_city,_San_Luis_Potosi_state,_Mexico14.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_Perpetual_Help%2C_San_Luis_Potosi_city%2C_ San_Luis_Potosi_state%2C_Mexico14.jpg License: CC-BY-2.0 Contributors: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltb/6889602771 Original artist: Enrique López-Tamayo Biosca • File:Tizian_041.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Tizian_041.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. Original artist: Titian • File:Vladimirskaya.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Vladimirskaya.jpg License: Public domain Con- tributors: ? Original artist: ?

11.3 Content license

• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0