Mary in the Life of the Church

The Direction of Intention

My God, give me the grace to perform this action with you

and through love for you.In advance, I offer to you all the good

that I will do and acceptall the difficulty I may meet therein.

St. Ann, Pray for us.St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us.

Pentecost – Mary in the Upper Room

Mary in the Early ChurchTheotokos, Ever-Virgin,

New EveMary in the Middle AgesMary and the Protestant

ReformationMary and the Modern

Church- Vatican IIThe Marian Dogmas

Mary in the Life of the Church

Pentecost: The Birth of the Church

Mary is joined with the Disciples in Prayer

She is there at the command of her Son…”behold your mother.”

Mary in the Upper RoomWhen they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, and

Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.... (there was a group of about 120 persons in the one place). (Acts 1:13-15)

Luke / ActsAt the Annunciation she accepts the

role of Mother of GodAt Pentecost she receives the role of

Mother of the ChurchAt Nazareth, Mary received the Holy

Spirit and was empowered to carry Christ within her womb At Pentecost she receives the Holy Spirit to

fulfill her role as the First DiscipleAt Bethlehem she carried the infant

Christ At Pentecost she carries the infant Church

Mary in the Upper Room

Pauline WritingsPaul never mentions

Mary by namePaul’s use of Mary to

explain Christ historicallyGalatians – “born of a

woman”Paul uses the concept

of the New Adam to speak about Christ – (Romans)

Early Church began to speak of Mary as the

“New Eve” is was the first title given to Mary

Mary in the Early Church

Theotokos Elizabeth's cry, "And why

is this, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?",

Definition of Mary as the Mother of God was established as a touchstone of orthodoxy. – Ephesus 431 AD and Chalcedon 451 AD

Definition “Mother of God”Speaks of Jesus Divinity

Marian Titles in the Early Church: Mother of God

Luke 1:34 "How shall this be done, for I know not man."

Matthew 1 :25 “and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.”

The New Testament references Jesus' adelphoi, which can mean either "brothers" or "kinsfolk" (not cousins)

In 107, Ignatius of Antioch described the virginity of Mary as "hidden from the prince of this world… loudly proclaimed, but wrought in the silence of God".

Fifth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 553Before, during and after the Birth of Jesus

Marian Titles in the Early Church: Ever Virgin

Representations of Mary tell the story…Eastern Church

Mary is the gateway to Christ

It is Mary who presents her Son to the world

The Virgin HodegetriaACTIVE ROLE

Representations of Mary reflect culture and time

Mary in the Middle Ages

Representations of Mary tell the story…

Western Church portrays Mary as the Throne of Wisdom – Ark of the Covenant

New Titles develop Once attributed to the Holy

Spirit“Seat of Wisdom”Morning StarAll ChasteAll Fair and Immaculate

The Rosary – St. Dominic 1214 AD

The Angelus – 1254 AD

Mary in the Middle Ages

A positive result Improved perception of

women across society. Church approval of the

veneration of Mary, and a view of her as the intercessor for sins, led to more respect for women, particularly those from the upper reaches of society.

Mary in the Middle Ages

Reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich ZwingliMaintained the ancient dogmas

concerning – Mother of God, Ever Virgin, The Assumption, The Immaculate Conception

Later reformers lessened the significance of Mary’s role in salvation history because it was stressed by the Roman Catholic Church

Saw contradiction in the Roman Catholic View that Mary was in any way involved in the mediation of Grace

Mary and the Protestant Reformation

Catholic Counter ReformationResurgence of Marian

devotionsStress placed on Marian

virtuesPatience, purity, maternity,

endurance, virginityFrancis de Sales, Theresa of

Avila, John of the CrossRefocused image of Mary

as disciple and image of the Church

Mary as Protector and Mediator

Mary and the Protestant Reformation

The Immaculate Conception of Mary Defines that Mary was without original sin and actual

sinRational: How could anyone but a holy soul, holy

since conception and throughout her whole life Mary was filled with every grace because she bore in

her womb the fountain of all graces, Jesus ChristImmaculate Conception defined by Pope Pius IX

in 1854The Assumption

Linked to “full of Grace” and by reason of Christ’s own death and Resurrection and Ascention

"having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."

Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united.

Doctrine was defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950

Mary and the Modern World

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven body and soulLinked to “full of Grace” and by reason of

Christ’s own death and Resurrection and Ascention

"having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."

Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united.

Doctrine was defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950

Mary and the Modern World

Mary as a fellow member of the Church, not as a semi-divine being

Go back to what the scriptures state about MaryWarned Catholics not to place belief in Mary's

power of intercession over their belief in Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and humans.

Model of a Christian, but she does not have any special powers.

Mary and the Modern World Second Vatican Council

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

Has risen, as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the worldthrough the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

grantwe beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the VirginMary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

Regina Coeli