The Life of Christ

• For example, many Catholics believe that Mary was also born of a virgin, just like Jesus, and that she remained a virgin all during her life.

• She was declared sinless by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854; this is called the Immaculate Conception (“without stain”). This pope claimed she was born without a sinful nature and never sinned throughout her earthly life. • Then there is the Assumption of Mary doctrine. Pope Pius XII proclaimed this doctrine on November 1, 1950 in his Munificentissimus Deus. This dogma states that the "Immaculate Virgin," the mother of Jesus, "after the completion of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven." This means that after her death, Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul, in a manner similar to Enoch and Elijah. The doctrine further states that Mary was glorified in heaven and is "exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things ."

130