There are varying opinions on this subject. Either she did, or she didn’t. Some say she just fell asleep, others say she actually died. If she just fell asleep, and wasn’t dead, why was her body in the tomb three days without her soul? The soul animates the body. So if she’s not really dead, why is she sleeping in the tomb for three days? According to THE MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD, she died on the 13th of August, on a Friday, at 3PM, at the very same hour Our Lord died, and her soul was taken directly to heaven. After 3 days, Our Lord sent her soul back to reunite with her body, and then she was assumed body and soul into heaven, August 15th. So, let us use a little reason and look at the truth of the matter.
In St. Alphonsus book, THE GLORIES OF MARY, DISCOURSE VII, on the Assumption of Mary, the heading reads: How precious was the death of Mary, both on account of the special graces that attended it, and on account of the manner in which it took place.
“Death being the punishment of sin, it would seem the divine Mother—all holy, and exempt as she was from all stain—should also have been exempt from death, and from encountering the misfortunes to which the children of Adam, infected by the poison of sin, are infected. But God was pleased that in all things Mary should resemble Jesus; and as the Son died, it was becoming that the Mother should also die; because, moreover, he wished to give the just an example of the precious death prepared for them, he willed that the most Blessed Virgin should die, but by a sweet and happy death.” And he goes on to say, “As divine love gave her life, so did it cause her death; for the Doctors and holy Fathers of the Church generally say she died of no other infirmity than pure love…
Our Blessed Mother was not subject to death, as the rest of us are, being completely sinless. “One is my dove, my perfect one is but one, she is the only one of her mother, the chosen of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and declared her most blessed: the queens and concubines, and they praised her.”[Canticles (Solomon) 6:8]. Scripture speaking of a perfect woman, and the only child of her mother St. Anne. The law of death did not apply to Mary: “”Thou shalt not die: for this law is not made for thee, but for all others.” [Esther 15:13].
THE MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD also informs us of what really happened. The first Pope to officially approve it was Pope Innocent XI, who issued a breve permitting the publication and reading of City of God, July 3, 1686. Similar decrees were afterward issued by Popes Alexander VIII, Clement IX, and Benedict XIII. Two later decrees issued by the Congregation of Rites approved by Benedict XIV and Clement XIV. Pope Pius XI granted the Apostolic Benediction to all readers and promoters of THE CITY OF GOD. With all that being said, let us now see what it has to say on the matter.
In Volume II, Chapter 8, Our Lady beseeching God to send the Redeemer, being in prayer at midnight, she heard God speak to her: ‘’My Spouse and My Dove, come, My chosen one, for the common law does not apply to thee (Esther 15:13). Thou art exempt from sin and thou art free from its effects since the moment of thy conception…” Here God declares to her she is not subject to the normal law of men, nor death. So why is it said that Mary died, when she didn’t have to? And the answer is, as Fr. Leslie Rumble said, “To imitate perfectly and completely her Divine Son.” When Mary’s time had come, Jesus actually came and appeared to her, and gave her the option to go on to heaven, or pass through the portal of death. She chooses death, for the very purpose of following Jesus in all things. The Mystical City of God says: The incarnate Word descended from heaven on a throne of ineffable glory, accompanied by all the saints and innumerable angels, and the house of the Cenacle was filled with glory….Her divine Son gave her His blessings and in the presence of the courtiers of heaven spoke to her these words: “My dearest Mother, whom I have chosen for my dwelling-place, the hour is come in which thou art to pass from the life of this death and of the world into the glory of My Father and mine, where thou shalt possess the throne prepared for thee at My right hand and enjoy it through all eternity. And since by My power and as my Mother, I have caused thee to enter the world free and exempt from sin, therefore also death shall have no right or permission to touch thee at thy exit from this world. If thou wishest not to pass through it, come with Me now to partake of my glory, which thou hast merited.”
The most prudent Mother prostrated herself at the feet of her Son and with a joyous countenance answered: “My Son and My Lord, I beseech Thee, let Thy mother and thy servant enter into the portal of eternal life by the common portal of natural death, like the other children of Adam. Thou, who art my true God, hast suffered death without being obliged to do so; it is proper that, as I have followed Thee in life, so I follow Thee also in death.” Christ the Saviour approved of the decision and the sacrifice of his most Blessed Mother, and consented to its fulfillment…And Mary pronounced the words of her Son on the cross, “Into thy hands,O Lord, I commend my spirit.” Then she closed her virginal eyes and expired.
Then this most pure soul passed from her virginal body to be placed in boundless glory, on the throne at the right hand of her Son. ” 7 Thy throne, O God, is for ever…10 The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.” Psalms 44. This glorious transition of the great Queen took place in the hour in which her divine Son had died, at three o’clock on a Friday, the thirteenth day of August, she being seventy years of age, less the twenty-six days intervening between the thirteenth of August, on which she died, and the eight of September, the day of her birth. (As an aside, the Medjugorje seers tried to say September 8th was not her birthday, but August 5th. Another falsehood that came out of Medjugorje).
Great wonders and prodigies happened at the precious death of the Queen. The sun was eclipsed in sorrow, the birds mourned, the Apostles and disciples broke forth in tears. Many of the sick who came were all cured. The souls in purgatory were released. But the greatest miracle was that three persons who had died in sin, subject to eteranl damnation; but when their cause came before the tribunal of Christ, his sweetest Mother interceded for them and they were restored to life. They so mended their conduct, that afterwards they died in grace and were saved…” Then, after three days, her soul was sent back and reunited to her body, and she was assumed body and soul into heaven.
The Blessed Mother spoke of her death to St. Bridget of Sweden. She informed her how she was admiring the love of God when her soul departed from her body. When the soul departs, the body dies. She goes on to inform her: “Thereafter those friends of my Son who had been brought together by God buried my body in the Valley of Josaphat. Countless angels accompanied them. My body lay entombed in the ground. Then it was taken up to heaven with infinite honor and rejoicing. There is no other human body in heaven except the glorious body of My Son and my body.”
So the point here being, that you don’t bury someone in the ground who is just sleeping. If Mary just fell asleep, then why did her soul leave her body? If she just fell asleep, why did they bury her? Yes, Mary did truly die, not because she was subject to death, but because she wanted to imitate her Son perfectly, which she did. She is a perfect replica of her Son Jesus. That is why Scripture says of her: “For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God’s majesty, and the image of his goodness.” Wisdom 7:26. A mirror is not the person itself, but a reflection of that person. This mirror is not God, but Mary, who reflects God perfectly. How beautiful is the soul of Mary which is a perfect image f God’s goodness!