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Students at New York City's Roman Catholic Fordham University last fortnight had the opportunity to study a little-known painting of the Assumption, Botticini's Vision of St. Thomas*, lent to the University by Princess
Caralli of Leuchtenberg. During the coming year such pictures of the hovering Virgin, the angels and vacant tomb will be increasingly exhibited. When Pius XII finally proclaims the new dogma from the altar of the Cathedra, in St. Peter's, Roman Catholic Christendom will be waiting.
* In 1854, Pius IX defined as dogma the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary—the belief that Mary was preserved from all sin from the moment her soul was created and infused into her body. But his infallibility had not at that time been officially recognized as dogma.
* According to legend, St. Thomas was not present with the other apostles at the burial of Mary, and doubted her ascension till the Virgin threw down to him her cincture as tangible proof.