Mary (mother of Jesus)

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Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The veneration of Mary is an essential belief of the Catholic Church. Mary is also venerated by Eastern Orthodox Church and Anglo-Catholicism. This veneration could take the form of prayer for intercession with her Son, Jesus. Many Protestants, however, believe that the veneration of Mary is counter to what the Bible teaches. For years, when it comes to Mary, Catholics and Protestants have been quite contrary. However, there are growing signs that differences over Mary are becoming less apparent. Many Protestant leaders are reevaluating and saying a greater emphasis on Mary needs to be considered.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea to Mary, who at the time was a virgin, by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of Matthew describes Mary as a virgin who fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. The Gospel of Luke relates that the angel Gabriel visited Mary in order to announce to her that she had been chosen to bear the Son of God (Luke 1:26–38).

Mary's passage into Heaven is celebrated by Roman Catholics as The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25 and August 15). This Feast is a Public Holiday in many countries. In 1950, Pope Pius XII formally declared to be dogma the belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary. The Orthodox Church expresses reverence toward the Blessed Virgin by the many feast days commemorating the various events in Her life. In prayers the Virgin Mary is called Theotokos, which in Greek means the Mother of God, since the One Who was born from Her was at the time of conception and always will be the true God.

Scripture and tradition agree in ascribing to Mary the greatest personal sanctity; She is conceived without the stain of original sin; She shows the greatest humility and patience in her daily life (Luke 1:38, 48); She exhibits an heroic patience under the most trying circumstances (Luke 2:7, 35, 48; John 19:25-27)... within the first fifty years after the death of St. John the veneration of Mary is proved to have flourished in the Church of Rome.

Crucifixion

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Mary was present during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ along with other women who had followed Jesus from Galilee.

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, "there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own" (John 19:25-27).

Following the crucifixion:

Jesus was in the grave for three days. After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and Salome prepared spices to anoint Jesus' body. When they arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away! They entered the tomb, where an angel said, "Don't be alarmed. . .You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you'" (Mark 16:6-7).

Marian Prayers

Classical Prayers

• Hail Mary
• Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)
• Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Mary, Mother of Grace
• Prayer of the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Mary, Help of Those in Need
• Sub Tuum Praesidum

The Rosary combines vocal prayer and meditation centered around sequences of reciting the Lord's Prayer followed by ten recitations of the "Hail Mary" prayer and a single recitation of "Glory Be to the Father".

The prayer "Hail Mary" has its roots in Luke I:42 where Elizabeth (who is Mary's cousin) salutes Mary and in Luke I:28 where the Arch Angel Gabriel salutes Mary.

Major Apparitions

• Guadalupe, 1531
• Lourdes, 1858
• Fatima, 1917

In the US, Lady of Prompt Succor, (New Orleans, United States, 1809). Wind-blown fire changes directions, sparing the convent; President of the United States Andrew Jackson credits the Lady with the victory in the famous Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

See also

• Mary Magdalene
• Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Ave Maria
• Annunciation

External links

• The Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Blessed Virgin Mary
• The Rosary
• Hail Mary Information on the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• The Mystery of the Virgin of Guadalupe
• Virgin Mary, Other Apparitions
• Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, A Protestant Look at a Catholic Phenominon: Part Two
• Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
• The Mary Page About Mary.