Sources
Munificentissimus Deus
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Munificentissimus Deus is a primary source, the 1950 papal bull in which Pope Pius XII formally defined the doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life as dogma for the Roman Catholic Church, one of the few instances of a pope exercising the formally defined charism of papal infallibility since the First Vatican Council. As the actual document, it is direct and authoritative evidence of Catholic doctrine on this specific point and of the extensive theological and traditional reasoning Pius XII cited in support of it. Like the earlier Immaculate Conception dogma, the Assumption is defined Catholic teaching rather than a belief shared in the same defined form across Christianity broadly, and Eastern Orthodoxy holds a related but doctrinally distinct feast of the Dormition, a difference worth keeping in view whenever this bull is cited.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Munificentissimus Deus is Pope Pius XII's own 1950 papal bull formally defining the doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary, one of the few exercises of the formally defined charism of papal infallibility, the top tier reflecting that it is the primary document itself, notwithstanding that Eastern Orthodoxy holds a related but doctrinally distinct feast of the Dormition. NotesThe 1950 constitution defining the Assumption; the only exercise of papal infallibility since 1870.
Custodian
Custodian SourceYes
Custodian BodyPope Pius XII
Custodian BasisA papal constitution defining a dogma of the Catholic Church. Authoritative for what the Church holds; it is not independent evidence for the content of the dogma.
Citation
AuthorPope Pius XII
Publication Year1950
Source Typeprimary-text
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Eastern Orthodoxy directly: "form across Christianity broadly, and Eastern Orthodoxy holds a related but doctrinally distinct feast of the Dormition, a difference worth keeping in view whenever this bull is cited."
This source names Pius XII directly: "source, the 1950 papal bull in which Pope Pius XII formally defined the doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life as dogma for the Roman Catholic Church..."
Claims Backed By This Source (17 claims)
This source backs 17 claims across the atlas. As facts: 11 well-attested. As cited relationships: 4 holds. Plus 2 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Sources, 11 claims: 9 well-attested, 2 holds.
- Beliefs & Restrictions, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Holidays & Festivals, 3 claims: 2 holds, 1 general references.
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