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