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Virgin Mary
Mary was the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus Christ, who was conceived within her by the Holy Spirit when she was a virgin. She is often called the “Virgin Mary,”. She was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of Joachim and Ann. In the Catholic faith, her feast day is celebrated on September 8.
938 Questions
What was special about the mother of Jesus?
Catholics in union with the Pope (including the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Slovak CC, Ruthenian CC, Melkite CC, Albainian CC, Chaldean CC, Maronite CC, Coptic CC, Ethiopian CC, and Roman CC) as well as Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that: -She was born without the stain of original sin and she never sinned in her whole life. -She was asked to be the bearer of Jesus and she accepted. -She was the the Mother of Jesus who is God the Son. -She participated by her humility and love in the repair of what Eve destroyed by sin. -She had the honor to be the Ark of the New Covenant. -She was given to us by Jesus during His final moments in this life as our mother. -She didn't die but was raised up into heaven. -She was crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.
What were some of the Virgin Mary's accomplishments?
The Blessed Virgin Mary's singular accomplishment was to *perfectly* obey the Will of God throughout her entire life without ever committing sin. Even though she was preserved from any stain of original sin, she still had free will and was able to sin as easily as Adam and Eve, and yet she did not. In accomplishing His Will, she gave her assent to become mother of God, and gave birth and raised Jesus Christ, our Savior. Our Blessed Lord gave her to each of us from the cross as our mother, a role which she continues to fulfill to this day, praying and interceding for each of us.
Why is Mary the first disciple?
No, she was His mother first. It would appear from the Scripture that Mary was fully obedient to God and knew Her Son was 'different' from all others. Though the few Scriptures speaking of her being with or following Her Son (see John 2 and Luke 8), it seems it would take the course of time, perhaps at the crucifixion and resurrection that Mary fully understood - when all those treasured moments alone or with family of Jesus and all His 'mysterious' sayings were finally made clear to her.
Mary was uniquely chosen by God to fulfill this great part of His plan of Salvation for all mankind. Indeed, God looked after every facet and part of the life of His chosen and highly favored vessel. Mary's attitude was, "Thy will be done" (read Luke 1:28-38). Although Mary then fades from the pages of the Bible, she will not fade from God's favor-or the future He will give to her.
Who drew the picture of Mother Mary for the first time?
There are old legends that the Evangelist Luke painted one or more images of the Blessed Virgin and there are a number of churches and monasteries that claim to have one of these paintings. There are no solid facts to back up these claims, however.
Where did Mary the mother of Jesus die?
The Doctrine of the Assumption states that Mary was assumed into heaven, body and soul. However, it does not state that she was assumed alive or died and her body assumed into heaven later. One of the apocryphal (non canonical) scriptures states that she died and when they went back to the tomb 3 days later, the body was gone and only the burial cloths remained. According to the Vatican, either explanation is acceptable and not excluded by the doctrine. We know that Mary had two tombs, one near Jerusalem and the other near Ephesus, or, at least, these are claimed to be her tombs. Whether either was the actual tomb or whether either was ever used is not known.
What is Mary's body assumed into heaven called?
The Blessed Virgin Mary did not Ascend into Heaven as Our Lord did, but she was Assumed by the will of Christ. This happened because The Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mother of God, and as such, was given the honor of being the prime mortal example for all of humanity as she was born without sin (called the Immaculate Conception) and was Assumed into Heaven body and soul as we all will be at the second coming of Christ.
Why are people devoted to the Virgin Mary?
Well, since Mary is the only immaculate (never sinned in her life and didn't have the stain of original sin) besides Jesus, she is very special. She is also very close to Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, because she bore Jesus. That is why we give her more veneration than any other saint, which leads other people to think that Roman Catholics are worshipping Mary when we are, in fact, just venerating her, asking her to pray for us and intercede for us.
We give her some titles such as "Most Holy Mary" but that means most holy human. We give her titles like "Mary Mother of God" but that doesn't mean she created or formed God. The reason why we give her this title is because she bore Jesus, which in the Catholic faith, is God in human form (We believe in the Trinity).
What prayer that contains three Hail Marys is in honor of the Incarnation?
Angelus. Devotion in honor of the Incarnation, commemorating the angel Gabriel's annunciation to the Blessed Virgin. Recited approximately at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. It is the opening word of the prayer "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae"(the angel of the Lord declared unto Mary). The evening Angelus probably owes its origin to the curfew bell, a signal for evening prayer. The morning recital began as a prayer for peace. The noon Angelus was first said only on Friday. It is replaced by the prayer Regina Coeli Laetare (Queen of Heaven, Rejoice) during the Easter season.
The text of the Angelus follows:
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Hail Mary...)
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done to me according to your word.
(Hail Mary...)
+And the word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.
(Hail Mary...)
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known of the message of an angel. May by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Angelus, it was classically prayed at 6 am, noon, and 6 pm:
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
and she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, full of Grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
Be it done to me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary ....
And the Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary ...
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray,
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts,
that we; to whom the incarnation of Thy Son, was made known
by an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the
glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Who were the grandmother and grandfather of the blessed virgin Mary?
What is the picture or statue of the Virgin Mary called?
It is called a statue of the Virgin Mary, some times the Madonna.
Who was Mary mother of Jesus' husband?
The Bible, archaeological, secular historical evidence and tradition all hold that Mary had one husband, Joseph.
Mary is sometimes called the Queen of what?
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without Original Sin,
Queen assumed into Heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace,
Did the Virgin Mary have any weaknesses?
She must have had some weakness, after all she was not God.
Roman Catholic AnswerThe Blessed Virgin Mary remained sinless her all life through a special grace of God. As she was preserved from the stain of original sin she did not share in the normal weaknesses of all humankind.from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994
411 The Christian tradition sees in this passage ["you did not abandon Him to the power of death" from the Creed] an announcement of the "New Adam" who, because he "became obedient unto death, even death on a cross," makes amends superabundantly for the disobedience of Adam. (CF. 1 Cor 14:21-22; Phil 2:8; Rom 5:19-20) Furthermore many Fathers and Doctors of the church have seen the woman announced int eh Protoevangelium as Mary, the mother of Christ, the "new Eve." Mary benefitted first of all and uniquely from Christ's victory over sin: she was preserved from all stain of original sin and by a special grace of god committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life. (Cf. Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus: Denzinger-Schonmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum {1965} 2803; Council of Trent: Denzinger-Schonmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum {1965}1573)
Why you should honor the Blessed Virgin Mary?
She gave birth to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of sins, the Son of God.
She is also the mother of the church
What is the feast day celebrated for Gabriel's announcement to Mary?
The Feast the Church celebrates as the day on which the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary is the Feast of the Annunciation. It falls on March 25 for the year of 2014.
How is Mary a model of holiness?
When the angel of the Lord appeared to her to tell her that she would bear a child who would be the Son of God, she answered, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."--New American Bible
She accepted the task that God had given her, and throughout Jesus' life she remained devoted and loyal to him.
What are symbols of Mary Mother of God?
There are many symbols for the virgin Mary. Some of these symbols include, The Immaculate Heart, rose, lily, strawberry, pomegranate, iris, pear and there are many others. See the link below for more information.
What is Saint Juan Diego known for?
Juan Diego was passing a hill when he saw the Virgin Mary she told him she wanted him to go to go to the bishop and get a church built on that hill. He went but the bishop didn't do it. So he went back to Mary and she told him to say that she requested it. But the bishop didn't believe him. Once again he went to Mary she told him to pick flowers in the Hill. (It was winter so flowers don't grow) So Juan did as she told and showed the bishop and when he opened his toga flower poured out and a picture of Mary was printed onto his white toga! So then the bishop built a church on top of the hill.
Did the Blessed Virgin Mary ascend to heaven alive?
The Catholic Faith has not defined whether the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven alive. Pope Pius XII, when he was having the question researched for a dogmatic proclamation was approached by a little boy who told him Our Lady had appeared to him and that the pope should not add that she had died when she was assumed. The pope believed the child's message and so did not broach the subject in his dogmatic declaration on the Assumption in his encyclical Munificentissimus Deus of November 1st, 1950.
Some theologians believe Our Lady did not die as she was immaculately preserved from sin and so would not be liable to the penalties of sin, such as death. Other theologians believe that she wished to further unite herself with her Son's redemption by freely choosing to suffer death as He had.
Tradition seems to favor that Our Lady did not die, so much so that in the Eastern Rites and among the Orthodox, Our Lady's Assumption is referred to as the "Dormition" or "her falling asleep". What the Catholic Church dogmatically teaches is that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven by her son Jesus Christ.
The Assumption is celebrated by the Universal Church on August 15. Our Lady in her Assumption is the patron saint of the United States.
It should be stated the Mary was assumed (needed help) while Jesus ascended (without assistance).
Precedents
Enoch
In describing the fittingness of the Assumption, many saints and theologians have recalled that being assumed, or caught up into heaven is not without precedent. For example "Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him." (Gn 5:24 NAB), and St. Paul recalls that "By faith Enoch was taken up that he should not see death, and 'he was found no more because God had taken him.' Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God." (Heb 11:5 NAB)
Similarly, the archangel Gabriel indicated that Mary had also pleased God: Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30 NAB). Mary herself is gladdened at the news and joyfully attests to having pleased God in her Canticle: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." (Lk 1:46-49 NAB).
Indeed, her walk with God would become intimately physical and spiritual by giving birth to God the Incarnate Word, walking with Him through His life, death, and resurrection. In this sense, Mary's walk with God takes on a superlative character that surpasses that of Enoch's walk with God.
Elijah
Similarly, saints and theologians have recalled "When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwhind...on their way from Gilgal", and that "as they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (cf. 2 Kings 2:1,11).
Here it is worth noting that writers in the Old as well as the New Testaments frequently used flames or fire to indicate the presence of the Divine (cf. Ex 3:2-3, Ex 13:21-22, Is 6:1-7, Ez 1:4). Thus, Elijah's being taken up to heaven by flaming horses and a flaming chariot indicates a fitting consummation of the life of a holy person consumed, engulfed and overshadowed by sacred flames of the Holy Spirit. In this comparison, there is again a superlative character in which Mary was consumed, engulfed or overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, allowing her to receive the very Incarnate Word into her being - body and soul, as no other person ever has.cf. Lk 1:35; Acts 1:13-14; Acts 2:3-4. Considering the Incarnation of Christ alone, the superlative character of her receptivity of the flame of the Holy Spirit surpasses that of even Elijah.
Also, just as Elijah was engulfed in flames and taken to heaven, theologians and scholars have indicated a similar image of Mary engulfed in the Divine flame represented by the sun: A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Rev 12:1.
REFERENCES
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The New American Bible, (Iowa Falls: IA, World Bible Publisher, Inc. 1991).
Why is Saint Maria named after the Virgin Mary?
Most Christians believe in a doctrine known as the "virgin birth." This doctrine is based on a verse from the Hebrew Bible (Isaiah 53) which Christians believe predicts the unique birth of the messiah-- a virgin (a woman who has not had any sexual relations) will miraculously give birth to him. In the New Testament Gospels, Mary is said to be that woman-- she becomes pregnant with Jesus not because she had sex with her husband Joseph, but rather, because she has been made pregnant by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Having been chosen by God for this purpose, Mary is thus known as the Blessed Virgin, or the Virgin Mary. There are also other beliefs about how special she was, including that she was without sin.
(It should be noted that there are a number of translations of the Hebrew Bible verse, not all of which say a "virgin" will give birth, and there are also scholars who do not think the Isaiah 53 verse predicted Jesus at all. Further, many religions have a "miracle birth story." But that said, for the majority of Christians, the story of Jesus's miraculous conception and birth, as well as the belief in the holiness of Mary, the woman who bore him, remain integral parts of Christian faith.)
When was the Virgin Mary last seen on earth?
Her apparitions continue to this day. The most recent apparition to be approved as authentic by the Vatican was Our Lady at Akita from 1973 to 1979. However, the apparitions of Our Lady at Medugorje have been happening since June 24, 1981 and have continued with the most recent being August 2, 2010. This apparition is not currently approved by the Vatican, but it is under investigation.
What prophecy was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus from Virgin Mary?
Having read the entire Bible quite carefully, I can say that I have not seen a single prophecy of the birth of Jesus. That is not to say that, with some imagination and a great deal of faith, some can not produce an alleged prophecy. But such interpretations go against the context and the original intentions of the biblical authors.
For example, Matthew, a Greek-speaking Jew, was looking for a biblical reference he could use to prove that Jesus was prophesied to be born of a virgin. The Septuagint (An early translation of the Hebrew Bible into the Greek language) incorrectly translated Isaiah 7:14 to say that a virgin would conceive and bear a child. The correct translation would have been "the young woman", and the young woman in question did have a child a few verses later in Isaiah. The author of the Gospel of Matthew relied on this mistranslation to show that it was prophesied that Jesus would be born of a virgin, although Jesus was not mentioned.
Answer:
"...the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isa.7:14)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying... that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matt.1:18-23)
Is Mother Mary the patroness of anything?
Our Lady has numerous patronages, because she is both the Mother Of God and Mother of the Church.
How do Catholics honor Mary on her feast days?
There are several ways of honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast days (as laid down by the Roman Catholic Church) firstly attending Mass on that day has become a tradition for Catholics as is leading a procession for Mary sing Marian hymns (prayerful songs especially composed for Mary) or praying the rosary (a set of prayers allegedly taught by Mary to St Dominic in an apparition). Special prayers are offered on this day asking for Her intercession, help and guidance in issues such as, praying for another child, praying for peace or praying for a husband.
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Roman Catholic AnswerCatholics honor the Blessed Virgin Mary at all times, but especially on her feast days. We do this, as we should be doing everything, in imitation of Our Blessed Lord, who, as the Sacred Scriptures tell us, honored her and obeyed her His whole Life. The only thing that the Blessed Mother has ever said is summed up in the Scripture verse of St. John's Gospel, 2:5 "Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye." In other words we honor her specifically by obeying Her, by following Her Son, and obeying Him, Our Blessed Lord.