Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine on 1 November 1950: ‘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’.

Here is a Troparion from the Orthodox Church for the Solemnity: ‘In giving birth you preserved your virginity, in falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, and by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death’.

May Our Lady pray for us on this her special day, and may you know God’s abundant blessing.