Mary
The Mother of God
What
woman has
appeared on
the cover of
Time
magazine
more than
other?
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)
- Mary with Marah – the place of
bitter water in the Exodus Story,
her name would mean stubborn
or even rebellious
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
Isaiah, Micah,
Jeremiah
In New Testament
Davidic Ancestry
Parents Joachim (belonged
to the royal house of
David)
Anna – descendent of the
priestly family of Aaron
–Jesus: royal and
priestly
What About Young
Jewish Girls?
Jewish maidens considered for
marriage at age 12 ½
Betrothed – meant belonged to the
bridgegroom for about one year;
before they lived together
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 monthsuntil 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 Son
Behold Your Mother
Mary and St. John
John’s Gospel written for the
Ephesians
Tradition teaches us that Mary
accompanied him n his journey
to Asia Minor - Ephesus
Mary’s Work
Found in Luke 1: 46-55
My soul proclaims
the greatness of God
The Magnificat
Mary’s Life After Jesus
On Bulbul Dag (Nightingale mountain) there is
the House of the Virgin where it's believed
that she passed the last years of her life and
died. Virgin Mary came to Ephesus (present
day Turkey) together with St. John and
taken up to Panaghia Kapulu mountain to
survive the Roman persecutions. The House
was destroyed by many earthquakes and
not discovered until 1951 –
Mary’s Death
The Dormition Church, situated on
Mount Zion outside the walls of the Old
City of Jerusalem, facing the Zion Gate,
was built between 1906 and 1910, after
Sultan Hamid gave this plot of land to
Kaiser Wilhelm II as a gift.
According to Christian beliefs, this is
the place where Mary, the mother of
Jesus "fell asleep" here, hence the full
name of the Church: Dormitio Beatae
Mariae Virginis. Dormition is derived
from the Latin for "sleep".
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
Carl Jung
What does THAT Mean?
God’s great affirmation of
all that was
created and human
Mary as Model of the Church
In the Book of Revelation we are
reminded that just as the woman
endured suffering,
so too the Church endured
suffering and persecution but
ultimately God prevailed.
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.
Mary as Theotokos
bearer of God –
in a special and unique way
Mary brought forth God into the world.
In what ways are we called to
bring God into the world?
How do we bear God to the world?
Through prayer and then through action,
continue to give birth to God in the world
that is filled with much brokenness.
Maritiali Cultis - Paul 6
Mary the First and
most perfect disciple
We honor Mary because she was
the first to say “yes”.
What is God asking
me to say “yes” to?
Paul 6 – Star of Evangelization
Mary who throughout the
history and tradition of our
Church has called people
each in their own given
circumstance to follow her
example of a life that
magnifies and gives glory
to God.
Immaculate Conception
Ancient tradition has Mary’s parents as
Joachim and Anne
Mary conceived in the natural way
but 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
Patronness 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.
The date of the feast was determined by
counting back 9 months from the date of
her conception
Along with the births of John the Baptism,
this is the day we celebrate
the dawning of salvation in the world
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 Annunication – 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 31
story 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 apparitions?
Lourdes: Healing Water
Fatima: World Peace
Guadalupe – Patroness of the
Americas
Infallible
Many non-Catholics, and even some
Catholics, wrongly believe that the
doctrine teaches that the Pope is infallible
in everything he says. In reality, the use
of papal infallibility is quite rare.
Nearly all Catholic theologians agree that
both Pope Pius IX's 1854 definition of the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception of
Mary, and Pope Pius XII's 1950 definition
of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary
are instances of papal infallibility.
Titles of Mary
Mary bears more titles than could be collected here.
Some titles refer to her personifications, such as:
Immaculate Virgin, Most Holy Virgin, Blessed
Virgin, Ever-Virgin; Madonna, Holy Mother, Mother
Mary, Divine Mother, Cosmic Mother, Mother of
God, God-Bearer, Theotokos; Bride of Christ,
Bride of God, Bride of the Church; Our Lady,
Queen of Heaven, Queen of Peace; Black
Madonna, and Black Virgin. Other titles refer to
Mary's attributes, such as: Mediatrix, CoRedemptrix, Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of the
Helping Hand, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Our
Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Mercy, and
Lady of Valor.
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Immaculate Conception, Immaculada Concepcion, Notre Dame Cathedral of Parish; Nuestra Senor de
Lujan, Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, Nuestra Senora de la Providencia, Nuestra Senora de
Cormato, Our Lady; Gate of Heaven; Our Lady; Help of Christians; Our Lady; Mother of the
Church; Our Lady; Queen of All Saints; Our Lady; Queen of the Apostles; Our Lady in America;
Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace; Our Lady of Africa; Our Lady of Altotting; Our Lady of Bandel;
Our Lady of Bandra; Our Lady of Banneux; Our Lady of Baeuraing; Our Lady of Calvary; ; Our
Lady of Consolation; Our Lady of Copacabana; Our Lady of Czestochowa; Our Lady of Europe;
Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of Good Council; Our Lady of Good Help; ; Our Lady of Grace;
Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe of Estramadura; Our Lady of Hungary; Our Lady
of Japan; Our Lady of Kevelaer; Our Lady of Knock; Our Lady of La Leche; Our Lady of La Vang;
Our Lady of Las Vegas; Our Lady of LaSallette; Our Lady of Limerick; Our Lady of Loreto; Our
Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lujan; Our Lady of Madhu; Our Lady of Mariazell; Our Lady of
Mercy; Our Lady of Montserrat; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Our Lady of Mount Carmel at
Aylesford; Our Lady of Nazareth; Our Lady of Peace; Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Our Lady of
Pompeii Our Lady of Pontmain; Our Lady of Providence; Our Lady of Ransom; Our Lady of Safe
Travel; Our Lady of Salambao; Our Lady of Shongweni; Our Lady of Sorrows; Our Lady of Tears;
Our Lady of Victory; Our Lady of Walsingham; Our Lady of the Americas; Our Lady of the
Assumption; Our Lady of the Cape; Our Lady of the Gulf; Our Lady of the Hermits; Our Lady of
the Highways; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary; Our Lady of the Holy Souls; Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception; Our Lady of the Incarnation; Our Lady of the Kodiak; Our Lady of the
Pines; Our Lady of the Prairie; Our Lady of the Presentation; Our Lady of the Rosary; Our Lady of
the Scapular; Our Lady of the Snows; Our Lady of the Turumba; Our Lady of the Valley; Our
Lady of the Wayside; Our Lady of the Woods; Our Own Sweet Mother; Queen of All Saints;
Queen of Angels; Queen of Creation; Queen of Heaven; Queen of Heaven and Earth; Queen of
Martyrs; Queen of Peace; Theotokos; Virgin de Copacanana, Virgen Del Carmen, Virgen
Chiquinquira, Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, Virgen del Quinche, Virgen de Suyapa, Virgen de
Cocoupo, Virgen del Rosario, Virgen de Altagracia, Virgen de Guadalupe
Other People Who have
modeled Discipleship
The Saints
We have 10,000 of them!
Process of Sainthood
-
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
Some Famous Ones
St. Joseph
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Therese of the Child
Jesus
2 of the newest ones
St. Joan of Arc
Communion of Saints
With God forever
We will all be there
together!
November
End of the Church year
Lots of readings about “end” things,
our own as well as the world's. The
liturgical year ends with the Feast of Christ
the King. "This feast asserts the supreme
authority of Christ over human beings and their
institutions.... Beyond it we see Advent dawning
with its perspective of the Lord's coming in glory."
— The Liturgy and Time, A.G. Mortimort
November 1 - All Saints
+Tradition in the Church of the
Day of Martyrs
+In 835 – Pope Gregory moved
Feast of Martyrs from May 13 to
November 1
+Reminds the faithful that the
Church is not bound by time or
space
+Communion of Saints – unity of
ALL Christians – past, present
and future
November 2 - All Souls
Feast expanded to honor
everyone who has died
Different traditions from
different countries
Dia de los Muertos
So What’s Up With Halloween?
Hallowe’an
All Hallows Eve
Hallowmas – “the eve of the holy ones”
(some of the Church’s greatest celebrations happen the night before i.e
Christmas, Easter)
Influence of the Celts – Nov 1 – beginning of
the new year; coming of winter; night
before celebrated the Festival of Samheim,
Land of the Dead
Tradition of trick or treating – Irish farmers
going from farm to farm;
brought to US in great migration
Tale of Jack O’ Lantern
Colors of Black and
Orange
(Requiem Mass)
Jack forced to travel
Eternity; not welcome
in either heaven or hell
Used to be a carved
turnip
with a candle to light
his way
Celebration of Mass
All the saints together
Beginning With Baptism
On the day of his/her
baptism, … first
spiritually died with
Christ, may he/she now
share in everlasting
glory ….
Catholic Funerals
Baptismal Water
Placing of Pall – white garment
of baptism
Pascal Candle
Book of Gospels
Incense
Procession
Mass
What Do We Believe
About Cremation?
Special rites developed
What is the preferred practice?
Andrew Greeley
“We are born with two
incurable diseases:
life
from which we die,
and
hope
which says maybe
death isn’t the end.”
Do Not
Fear
To Hope