group 9 theology

8/10/2019 Group 9 Theology

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The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of the Church becausgave birth to Jesus, the son of God, the head of the Church.

After the Ascension of Jesus, Mary aided the start of the chuher prayers.

She continues to intercede for her children to be a model ofcharity for all and to exercise a salutary influence from thesuperabundant merits of Christ.

The Faithful see in Mary an image and anticipation of the rethat awaits them.

They invoke her as advocate, helper, benefactress and medi


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The devotion to the Virgin Mary is one kind of devotion whiessentially from the adoration given to the Holy Trinity.

The special veneration to Mary finds particular expression inliturgical feasts dedicated to the mother of God and to MariPrayers.


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THE FOUR MARIAN DOGMAS

from the Catholic News Agency

Divine Motherhood

Perpetual Virginity

The Immaculate ConceptionThe Assumption


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Dogma

A doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals fstated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05089a.htm


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DIVINE MOTHERHOOD (Mary, the MotGod)

While Mary is honored by the Greco-Romans more than oth

saints, the reality is that early writings had more positive titoriginal apostles, than they did for Mary.

The expression Mother of God is never used by early churnor is it found in scriptures.

Several centuries after Mary died, (Pre-328 )Alexander of Alcalls Mary Theotokos or Birthgiver of God which translMother of God.


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Nestorianism is the doctrine that Jesus existed as two peman Jesus and the divine Son of God, rather than a unifie

This doctrine is identified by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constan

Nestorius argued against calling Mary the Motherof God.

Mary was the mother of Christ only in respect to His human


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Mary's divine motherhood was proclaimed at the Council ofin 431.

The Council attributed to Mary the title, Mother of God.

According to the council the holy virgin is the Mother of Godshe begot according to the flesh the Word of God made fles

The Decision was further explained by the Council of Chalcewhose principal purpose was to assert the orthodox Catholiagainst the heresies.


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Mary's Divine Motherhood was not the object of an indepeexclusive dogmatic declaration. The statement is embedded

defining the person and natures of Jesus Christ.

The dogma of Divine Motherhood becomes an integral partChristological dogma.

The semi-official adoption in the fifth century of the Theotowas an innovation as it is not from sacred scripture nor the traditions of the Christian church.


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PERPETUAL VIRGINITY (Mary, Ever-Vi

The expression Perpetual Virginity, Ever-Virgin, or sim

the Virgin" refers primarily to the conception and birt

Jesus. From the first formulations of faith, especially

baptismal formulas or professions of faith, the Churc

professed that Jesus Christ was conceived without hu

by the power of the Holy Spirit only.


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. Here lies the decisive meaning of expressions such a

"conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary," "Mary's

conception," or "virgin birth." The early baptismal fo

(since the 3rd century) state Mary's virginity without

explaining it, but there is no doubt about its physical

Later statements are more explicit. Mary conceived "any detriment to her virginity, which remained inviola

after his birth"


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Although never explicated in detail, the Catholic Chur

as dogma that Mary was and is Virgin before, in and

Christ's birth. It stresses thus the radical novelty of th

Incarnation and Mary's no less radical and exclusive d

to her mission as mother of her Son, Jesus Christ. Vat

reiterated the teaching about Mary, the Ever-Virgin, bthat Christ's birth did not diminish Mary's virginal int

sanctified it


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The Catechism of the Catholic Church ponders the de

meaning of the Virgin Bride and Perpetual Virginity (4

It also maintains that Jesus Christ was Mary's only ch

so-called "brothers and sisters" are close relations.


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Jesus brothers are mentioned in several Bible verses.Ma

12:46,Luke 8:19, andMark 3:31say that Jesus mother ancame to see Him. The Bible tells us that Jesus had four brJames, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). The Btells us that Jesus had sisters, but they are not named or(Matthew 13:56). InJohn 7:1-10, His brothers go on to thwhile Jesus stays behind. InActs 1:14, His brothers and m

described as praying with the disciples.Galatians 1:19meJames was Jesus brother.


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The Immaculate Conception The solemn definition of Mary's Immaculate Conception is like Divin

Motherhood and Perpetual Virginity, part of the Christological

doctrine, but it was proclaimed as an independent dogma by PopPius IX in his Apostolic Constitution "Ineffabilis Deus" (December 8,1854).

"Ineffabilis Deus"-God Ineffable

- Highlighting Marys privilege

- It stresses the dignity and holiness required to become "Mother ofGod." The privilege of the Immaculate Conception is the source andbasis for Mary's all-holiness as Mother of God.

- The dogma declares that from her beginning Mary was exceptionallholy and in constant union with the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit


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The Positive and Negative Meaningof this Dogma

POSITIVE MEANING -consequence of theabsence of original sin.

Mary's life ispermanently andintimately related toGod, and thus she is theall-holy

NEGATIVE MEANING -stresses Mary's freedomfrom original sin thanks

to the anticipated orretroactive (here calledpreventive) grace ofChrist's redemptive act.By the same token, thedogma suggests Mary'sall-holiness


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Ascension vs Assumption

ASCENSION- a sign of divine power,

just like what Jesus Christ

did

ASSUMPTION- refers to the taking up,

body and soul, of theBlessed Virgin Mary

through the power andgrace of God


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The Assumption Proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 on his Encyclical

Munificentissimus Deus

The dogma states that Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, theever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life,was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

Did Mary die? Was she assumed to heaven without prior separationof soul and body?

The opinion that Mary passed through death as her Son did, has the

stronger support in tradition. Glorified in body and soul, Mary is already in the state that will be

ours after the resurrection of the dead.


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The Assumption But this dogma has no direct basis in scripture. So why make it a

dogma?

Because the Vicar of Christwas inspired to do so to bring forth anew outpouring of grace for the Church through the intercession othe Queen of Heaven (Zenit News Agency)

The Assumption may be seen as a consequence of DivineMotherhood.


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The Assumption In heaven, Marys active involvement in salvation history continues

Taken up to heaven, she did not lay aside her salvific duty By hematernal love she cares for the brothers and sisters of her Son whostill journey on the earth (Lumen Gentium)

Mary is the eschatological icon of the Church (Catechism of theCatholic Church 972)

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