Absolutely.

Yes. Because Mary was born without original sin she didn't have to face death the way we do -- Death is only the result of original sin.

No. With all due and proper respect to Catholicism, its traditional doctrine, and its estimated one billion followers, I don't believe there's anything in the Bible that supports this idea. In fact, I don't believe the Bible says anything about how and when Mary died, or the circumstances of her death. Not trying to denounce anyone's beliefs here, so please don't be offended - just answering the question.

Yes

Nope.

No. It is not even hinted, let alone taught, in the Bible. Most of that is tradition. really. -In the Master's service. Thank you and God bless you!

Yeah, since I'm a Catholic, that's what should be expected.

1 I don’t think the Bible says that Mary is ascended into heaven. Even the HQ, the only scripture to honour Mary so highly, does not say that. These are all clever solutions to problems arising from belief in the so called 'original sin'. See points 1, 2 and 3 @ http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/1737336 2 Having argued that Mary is sinless the Roman Catholics have to deal with another problem arising from the literal interpretation of 'the wages of sin is death'. So if Mary is free from sin she couldn't have died. Solution - she must have ascended to heaven. 3 There are apparent contradictions in the literal interpretation of the phrase “the wages of sin is death”. According to such an interprettion the belief that Jesus died (on the cross) conflicts with the belief the he was sinless.

No. If Mary was "sinless" then why did she say, "my spirit rejoices in God my SAVIOR" If she were sinless, why would she NEED a savior? She wouldn't then NEED the Savior, because if she hadn't sinned, she'd be fine if she died not accepting Christ to have been the One who paid her fine at the cross... the fine both you and I, including Mary, could not pay. Christ was sinless (1) because He is the Spirit of God (2) He wasn't born from man's seed, who committed sin in the beginning (3) in Genesis through Adam by his rib, gave birth to Eve. Christ is "the last Adam" who became a "life-giving spirit...The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven." 1 Corinthians 15:44-47 ... see the symbolism there? as it's written, "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21) Christ's death was in VAIN if you're saying, "Mary was sinless, so because of this she went to Heaven." The wages of sin is death. Elijah and Enoch were the only two servants of the Lord who were taken up to Heaven and did not see death. (The Lord Jesus was without sin -1 Peter 2:22- so got taken up in glory, yet even He saw to physical death) But it's written in Hebrews 9:27, "Just as man (everyone) is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.." Who do you suppose the two witnesses are in Revelation 11? Elijah and Enoch. They never saw death. They were taken before Christ came. There is nothing in Scripture to support that Mary didn't see death. What about the other disciples? Only we know of Paul who was beheaded, Peter (who is traditionally taught to have been martyred on an upside down cross) and John, who died of old age or martyred on the Isle of Patmos. What about Luke? Thomas? Philip? The Lord's brother, James? Were they taken up to Heaven too? If Mary was sinless, then she could get into Heaven on her own without her Savior. That would then mean, it's possible for us to be "sinless" and we could get into Heaven. 1 John 1:8 says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Mary was a humble servant of the Lord. Stop exalting her, God chose her because she was of the line of David, and Joseph was, and the Christ was to come from that line. She wasn't divine, she was a servant who believed God's word. As you and I should do the same. Believe and trust God. and, "don't do it! [don't worship me]I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10) Yet why is she so highly exalted and focused upon? Catholics pray more to the saints and Mary, then to the Lord. Do I go to my friends to have them speak to my parents? Isn't that showing disrespect? Prayers to the saints, who are always passed onto life with the Lord, is adultery. They aren't omnipresent, God is! The Christian martyrs refused to say, "Hail Caesar" and take the pinch of incense as they said it. They would rather die than commit idolatry and betray their Lord Jesus. Yet, Catholicism has much idolatry. Their tradition and self-imposed worship has corrupted the message of the cross and fallen into apostasy. Even the Mary they portray, isn't the REAL Mary who gave birth to Christ. They have an "idol" version of Mary, just as they have conceived their own "idol" of who they claim is "God" which, evidently, is not the Lord God and not "according to sound doctrine." Titus 1:9, 2 Timothy 4:3 Transgressing both the 1st&2nd commandments..Breaking God's law. And without repentance, then you're like a thief who refused to keep stealing after having paid the first fine/offense. Doing such a thing subjects Christ to disgrace. (Hebrews 6:6)

no. that's absurd. If she did that, then I can shoot lightning from my fingertips........what's that?.....aw crap, nope no lightning.(man would that have been cool! :P )

NO.

She could have done both - she could have died a natural death and ascended immediately afterwards. She wouldn't have been been the first. For example, Elijah, Enoch, and Moses all ascended to heaven.

First of all Catholics do not believe that Mary is ascended into heaven. Ascension is NOT the same thing as assumption. Ascension is what Jesus Christ did at the resurrection. Enoch, Elijah and Mary were all assumed into heaven. Something that God did to them. As Paul says, they did not taste death.

Mary was Not born Sinless. Sin is passed down through the Seed of Men this is why we all face Death. see Romans 5:12 Christ Did Not inherit Sin because He was Not from the Seed of Natural Man. Mary was a chosen Vessel to accomplish Gods will.

First of all I would say that the original questioner is either non-Catholic or has an inaccurate understanding of Catholic belief. If you wish to ask the question, it needs to be rephrased to accurately reflect what Catholics believe. The correct term is Assumption, not ascension. Jesus ascended. Ascension is something Jesus did under his own power, assumption is something that God chooses to do, if that is what he wills. Second, most of the answers here are working under the assumption that the bible is the sole rule and authority of the Church. The Church came long before the bible. Sacred Tradition is mentioned several times in the Bible. Thirdly, belief in the Assumption of Mary is NOT contrary to the Bible. Elijah and Enoch were "taken up to heaven" body and soul. Fourth, as to the passage in Romans5:12- Where "all have sinned"...this is a reference to "original sin". God can do whatever he wishes. Eve was created without sin while in the Garden of Eden....Mary was the way in which Christ came into the world. Fifth, we know that mothers are NOT the "vessels" of their children. They are the mothers of their children...body and soul. IF God chooses to manifest himself here on earth as a baby "born of a woman", then he can do so. God is not limited by anything.