MaryMaryThe Church’s First and Most Perfect MemberThe Church’s First and Most Perfect Member

USCCA Chapter 12USCCA Chapter 12

Thursday, April 20, 2023Thursday, April 20, 2023

Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

1.1. ““What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”

a. The Church’s teachings about Mary protect and guard our relationship with Christ.

b. God did not have to use Mary for His plan of salvation, but fittingly chose to do so in a unique, singular way.

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023

Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

1.1. ““What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.”

c. All the Church’s teachings on Mary are rooted in Scripture.

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023

Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

2. The Immaculate Conception: The Immaculate Conception:

a. From the moment of her conception, Mary was free of Original Sin and actual sin.

b. The Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary, not Jesus.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

2. The Immaculate Conception: The Immaculate Conception:

c. Mary freely cooperated with God’s grace and remained free from personal sin her entire life.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

3. Mother of God:Mother of God:

a. The one that Mary conceived in her womb and bore is the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus, the Son of God.

b. Because Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, and because the two natures of Christ (human and divine) are inseparable, Mary is the Mother of God.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

3. Mother of God:Mother of God:

c. That Mary is called ‘Mother of God’ does not mean that she preexisted before the Second Person of the Trinity, nor does it imply that she is greater than Jesus.

d. Mary’s title ‘Mother of God’ protects the identity of Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

4. Perpetual Virgin:Perpetual Virgin:

a. Mary was always a virgin, both in conceiving Jesus, giving birth to Him and remaining a virgin ever after.

b. That Mary was a virgin before the birth of Jesus is held by all Christians.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

4. Perpetual Virgin:Perpetual Virgin:

c. Scripture supports Mary’s perpetual virginity.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

5. Assumption:Assumption:

a. At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into heaven.

b. The account of the Assumption is not directly in the Scriptures.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

5. Assumption:Assumption:

c. As the Mother of Christ the King, Mary is Queen of Heaven.

d. In her Assumption, Mary gives us a preview of what those in Christ will experience, the Resurrection of the body.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

6. Mother of the Church: Mother of the Church:

a. Jesus gave Mary to the entire Church to be our Mother in the life of faith.

b. She not only is the model disciple, but she intercedes for us in heaven.

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Session 6: MarySession 6: Mary

Discussion Questions:

1. How do the Church’s teachings on Mary lead to and protect the true understanding of the Person of Christ?

2. Mary had to live her love for Christ in trying times and suffered greatly for it, especially at the foot of the Cross. How has Mary’s example of faith strengthened your trust in Christ?

April 20, 2023April 20, 2023