MARYOur Blessed Mother

• According to the Bible, Mary was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee.

• She is identified in the New Testament as the mother of Jesus

• Mary is the most respected female figure in Christianity, venerated since early times

• Christians of the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, and Lutheran churches believe that Mary, as Mother of Jesus, is the Mother of God

• Mary is called Theotokos, literally "Bearer of God"

• Mary is mentioned throughout the New Testament

• Luke's gospel mentions Mary most often, identifying her by name twelve times, all of these in the Infancy Narrative

• Matthew's gospel mentions her by name five times, four of these in the Infancy Narrative and only once outside the Infancy Narrative.

• Mark's gospel names her once by name and mentions her as Jesus' mother without naming her in 3:31.

• Described as Jesus' mother, she makes two appearances in John's gospel.

• She is first seen at the wedding at Cana of Galilee

• The second reference in John has the mother of Jesus standing near the cross of her son together with Mary Magdalene, Mary of Cleopas and the "disciple whom Jesus loved".

• John 2:1-12 is the only text in the canonical gospels in which Mary speaks to (and about) the adult Jesus

• In the Book of Acts, Luke's second writing, Mary and the "brothers of Jesus" are mentioned in the company of the eleven who are gathered in the upper room after the Ascension

• The title "Mother of God" (Theotokos) for Mary was confirmed by the First Council of Ephesus, held at the Church of Mary in 431 AD.

• The Council decreed that Mary is the Mother of God because her son Jesus is one person who is both God and man, divine and human.

• The term Mother of God had already been used within the oldest known prayer to Mary, the which dates to around 250 AD:

Sub tuum praesidium (Beneath Your Protection)

Under thy protectionwe seek refuge, Holy Mother of God;despise not our petitions in our needs,but from all dangers deliver us always,Virgin Glorious and Blessed

• In the Catholic Church, Mary is accorded the title "Blessed" in recognition of her assumption to Heaven and her capacity to intercede on behalf of those who pray to her.

• Catholic teachings make clear that Mary is not considered divine and prayers to her are not answered by her, they are answered by God.

• There are four Catholic dogmas regarding Mary. They are:

• Mother of God• Perpetual virginity of Mary• Immaculate Conception (of Mary)• Assumption of Mary

• Mother of God

=> First defined at the Council of Ephesus (431)

=> The dogma states that since Jesus is God, Mary is the Mother of God

• Immaculate Conception

=> Defined by Pope Pius IX (1854)

=> Mary, at her conception, was preserved immaculate from Original Sin

• Perpetual virginity (Ever Virgin)

Þ Traditional, since the Third Century

Þ 'Perpetual virginity of Mary', means that Mary was a virgin before and after giving birth to Jesus

• Assumption into heaven

=> Defined by Pope Pius XII(1950)

Þ This dogma states that Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory

• The months of May and October are traditionally "Marian months" for Roman Catholics

• Popes have issued a number of Marian encyclicals and Apostolic Letters to encourage devotions to and the veneration of the Virgin Mary

Devotions to Mary include:

• The Rosary

• The Miraculous Medal

• The Scapular

• Marian Apparitions and Shrines