The Roman Catholic doctrine which says that Mary did not die, but was assumed into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. This doctrine was proclaimed as dogma in 1954. There is no Biblical basis for this doctrine. It follows upon the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. The thinking goes that since (according to the Roman Catholic Church) Mary was preserved from original sin by her Immaculate Conception, she would not have to suffer the punishment which original sin brought about, namely death. In other words, having been preserved from the guilt brought about by the sin of Adam and Eve, she would also be preserved from its effects. According to this line of reasoning, Mary did not share the fallen human nature the rest of us are heir to. Born without sin, she remained sinless all of her life, thus did not have to reap the wages of sin. This also required, according to Roman Catholic thought, that she remain a virgin throughout her life.