Abstract: With this article we aim to shed light on the various, specific arguments with which the prestigious 13th century Franciscan theologian Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (c. 1217/21 – 1274) – known as the Seraphic Doctor (Doctor Seraphicus) –, defended the belief in the immediate resurrection and assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. As a necessary doctrinal foundation for his position in this regard, we will first present a summary of the biblical, apocryphal, patristic and theological antecedents on which the Christian belief in the bodily Assumption of Mary into heaven is based. We will then proceed by following step by step the complex reasoning of Saint Bonaventure to justify his defense of the assumptionist thesis. The results of our study will show the originality of the arguments through which this influential Franciscan thinker defended the belief in the bodily Assumption of Mary and her sublime exaltation as enthroned Queen of Heaven. Indeed, St. Bonaventure’s arguments (along with those of his prestigious colleagues at the Franciscan Theological School) in favor of belief in the bodily Assumption of Mary into heaven contributed greatly to the official definition of the dogma of the Assumption in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.

Author: Salvador-González, José María

DOI: 10.17846/CL.2025.18.1.85-95

Publication order reference: PhDr. José María Salvador-González, Ph.D.; Complutense University of Madrid, Faculty of Geography and History, Department of Art History, C/ Profesor Aranguren s.n., 28040 Madrid, Spain; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6854-8652

Source: Konštantínove listy, 2025, vol.: 18, issue: 1, pages: 85-95 (PDF file)

Keywords: MARIOLOGY, CHRISTIAN TRADITION, RESURRECTION, HEAVENLY EXALTATION, CELESTIAL QUEENSHIP

Language: ENGLISH

Recommended Citation:

Salvador-González, José María. 2025. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven According to Saint Bonaventure. In Konštantínove listy [Constantine’s Letters] 18/1, 85-95.