Mary The Mother of God
Mary has been celebrated in the rituals of the Church in prayer,
music, song, procession, devotions, and special Masses
worldwide since the Church began.
Mary’s Name
- Derived from Hebrew word meaning myrrh and from the word
for “bearer of light” - St. Jerome called her Sella Maris
– meaning “drop from the sea” (Mary, star of the Sea)
Why do we Honor Mary?
- She is the Mother of Jesus - She is the best and first
disciple
Who Is Mary?
Mary
from the Old Testament
in the prophets her role was
foreshadowed by Isaiah, Micah,
Jeremiah
In New Testament
Ancestry Parents Joachim (belonged
to the royal house of David)
Anna – descendent of the priestly family of Aaron
– Jesus: royal and priestly
Mary and Gabriel
Luke1: 28 – 31 Hail Mary, favored one! The Lord is with you…
Mary and Elizabeth Luke 1: 42
Blessed are you among women Blessed is the fruit of your womb
Visit to Elizabeth
– begins her greeting with the words with
which the angel had finished his salutation
– both spoke in the same Holy Spirit –
words to Hail Mary
– first to call Mary, Mother of God
– Mary remained there for 3 months-until the
birth of John the Baptist
Mary and Joseph
– Mary’s pregnancy would not astonish anyone but Joseph – his desire was to
divorce her quietly – in a dream – Joseph did as the angel
commanded and took Mary into his home
Mary in the Life of Jesus
His Birth
Mary and Joseph finding Jesus in the temple
Mary with Jesus at Cana
Mary with Jesus at the
wedding feast of Cana
Mary at the foot of the Cross
Mary and Apostles at Pentecost
Woman, Behold Your SonBehold Your Mother
Mary and St. John
John’s Gospel written for the Ephesians
Tradition teaches us that Mary accompanied him in his journey
to Asia Minor - Ephesus
Mary’s Work
Found in Luke 1: 46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of God
The Magnificat
The Assumption of Mary
According to Catholic doctrine and the traditions of the Catholic Church, the
Blessed Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly
life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.“ This means that
Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united. This
doctrine was dogmatically and infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on
1 November 1950
Mary Didn’t Always Understand
Sometimes she just went where she was needed and let everything
else work its way out. Where is God calling you to
minister now? Just go.
Immaculate Conception
*Mary born without sin *Defined by Pius IX in 1854 – God’s grace was
given to her “in such a wonderful manner that she would always be free
from every stain of sin *Patroness of the United States
under this title *National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington, DC
The Birth of Mary – Sept 8
We do not know the date of Mary’s birth but since the 7th century we have celebrated
on this day.
Presentation of Mary in the Temple – November 21
No biblical record of this. Mary, like all Jewish children, would have been presented in the temple 40
days after her birth. Mary, as a Jewish mother was required to go to the temple for
ritual purification. Presented the sacrifice of the poor – 2 pigeons or
turtledoves.
The Annunciation – March 25
Celebrates the conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary, accomplished by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1: 26-38). Mary is deeply
disturbed by the angel’s message and she is fearful. Yet she places her trust in God saying “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your
word.” Occurs exactly 9 months before the
celebration of his birth.
The Visitation - May 31story of Mary going to visit her cousin
Elizabeth who is also with child. She is to become the mother of John the Baptist.
Elizabeth greets Mary with the words that are part of the Hail Mary “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1: 42). In response,
Mary offers a prayer which today is known as the “Magnificat” which in Latin, is the
first words of the prayer “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
The Birth of Jesus December 25
Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and also a
reflection on Mary’s part in giving him life and upon her vital
link to the whole mystery of Incarnation.
Mary, Mother of God January 1
One of the oldest and most important feasts about Mary. The title “Mother of God” was
given to Mary in 431 at the Council of Ephesus. Significant in that the early
Church saw Mary only as the mother of the human part of Jesus. This feast
celebrates that Mary is the Mother of not only Jesus’ humanity but also his divinity.
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
February 3
Simeon spoke to Mary “You yourself shall be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.” (Luke 2: 35)
Pope John Paul II – his mother will be mysterious and sorrowful.
Assumption – August 15
Since the 7th century, the Church has celebrated Mary’s death and being
taken into heaven as “the Assumption.” In 1950, Pope Pius XII
defined as dogma that Mary was assumed into heaven “body and
soul”. She shared in the fullness of Jesus’ redemption from the moment of her conception to the completion
of her earthly pilgrimage.
Special Months of Mary
May – in the celebration of Mother’s day
October – celebration of the Feast of the Holy Rosary on October 7
What about those appearances? Lourdes: Healing Water
Fatima: World Peace Guadalupe – Patroness of the
Americas