BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Role of Mary

1. Is Mary truly the mother of God?

Since Jesus is God and Mary as his physical mother gave birth to him, it follows that she is truly the mother of God. [509*, 495, 963].

2. What was Mary's role in salvation history?

The main role of Mary in salvation history was her cooperation in serving as the mother of Jesus by giving her fiat (so be it) or agreement to do so. [511*, 973*, 484-86].

3. What was the Virgin Mary's role in scripture?

The role of Mary in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ, and flows directly from it. She cooperated with the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation in accepting the role as the Mother of Jesus, she visited her cousin Elizabeth before the birth of her nephew John the Baptist, she gave birth to Jesus her firstborn and only child, she spent time in Egypt until the death of Herod, she brought up Jesus to manhood, she traveled with him on periodic visits to Jerusalem for feasts, she persuaded her son to change water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana, she was with Jesus at the foot of the cross, she was given into the care of John the Apostle at the foot of the cross by Jesus, and she associated with the apostles and several women in helping to start the early Church in Jerusalem. [484-87, 494, 964-65, 2618, 2674].

Feasts in Honor of Mary

4. What is the Immaculate Conception?

The Immaculate Conception is the dogma proclaimed in Christian Tradition and defined in 1854 that from the first moment of her conception Mary, by the singular grace of God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, was preserved immune from original sin. [glossary, 508*, 490-93].

5. What is the Assumption?

The Assumption is the dogma proclaimed in 1950 which recognizes the Blessed Virgin Mary's singular participation in her Son's resurrection, whereby she was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory when the course of her earthly life was finished. [glossary, 974*, 966].

Virgin Birth

6. What was the virgin birth?

The virgin birth involves the conception of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary solely by the power of the Holy Spirit without human sperm, and his subsequent birth without Mary losing her virginity. [glossary, 496-97].

7. When was Mary a virgin?

Mary remained a virgin all her life, meaning before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. [glossary, 510*, 496-99].

8. Who were the individuals referred to as 'brothers and sisters of Jesus" in the New Testament?

The Church has always understood that these individuals were actually close relations of Jesus, not his brothers and sisters. [500].

Devotions to Mary

9. What is meant by devotion to the Blessed Virgin?

In the canticle of Mary called the Magnificat we read "All generations shall call me blessed" (Lk 1:48). The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title 'Mother of God' to whose protection the faithful fly in their dangers and needs. This special devotion differs in an essential manner from the adoration which is given to the Incarnate Word Jesus, and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it greatly fosters this adoration. The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, express this devotion to the Virgin Mary. We believe that the Holy mother of God, the new Eve, continues to exercise her role on behalf of the members of Christ. [975*, 2682*, 971, 2673-79].

10. What is the rosary?

The rosary is a prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which repeats the privileged marian prayer Hail Mary in decades or sets of ten prayers, each preceded by the Our Father and concluded by the Glory Be to the Father. The recitation of these prayers is accompanied by meditation on the mysteries of Christ's life. The rosary was developed by medieval piety in the Latin Church as a popular substitute for the liturgical prayer of the Hours. [glossary, cf. 971, 1674].