There are two opposing Theological positions regarding the ending of the this-worldly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first, and perhaps most widely held position is called the Assumption of Mary, wherein it is believed that Mary entered into everlasting life without suffering the pangs of actual Death. The word “Assumption” means “taking up” and it indicates that, in this belief, Mary was taken up into Heaven without suffering death.
The second theological position is called The Dormition, or the “falling asleep” of Mary. In much of the New Testament death was described in that manner. We do not know why. The idea in this one is quite simple; Mary lived with John into her old age and then she died.
So of the two positions staked out in our historical understanding of the death of Mary neither has any support in scripture. There is some scant support for both of them in the later books written in the Gnostic traditions. The Roman Catholic Church issued an edict and chose sides on the 1st of November, 1950 by proclaiming the Assumption of Mary to be doctrine. The Dormition is the theology accepted by the bulk of the Greek and Russian Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church and most of Anglicanism. In fact, it is one of the relatively few points of real difference between Anglicanism and Romanism. We believe that it was an act of hubris, human pride, that made Pope Pious XII assert that the Assumption was a doctrinal absolute that was incumbent on every Christian to believe. Anglicanism takes the position that unless it can be proved by the scriptures, a theological premise cannot be defined as Dogma.
The question has to do with the death of the BVM. Not how she attained her position in Heaven. We believe that while she was a very special human, one worthy of much honor and veneration, Mary remained, throughout her lifetime and even now in her residence in the Highest Heaven a complete, and singularly obedient human being. And, for me, that is more of a miracle than anything we have discussed in this little brief essay.