WHAT IS MARIOLOGY?

Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Within the Roman Catholic
Church, Mary is venerated over all other saints. Anglicans share some of the beliefs of Roman
Catholic Mariology, but not all. The Eastern Orthodox Church calls Mary the “God-bearer,”
emphasizing Mary’s status as the mother of God Incarnate, gives her the title “Ever Virgin,” and
emphasizes her sublime holiness, her share in redemption, and her role as a mediator of grace.

Most Protestants endorse the Apostles’ Creed, which acknowledges the virgin birth of Christ, but
they do not believe in most of the other tenets of Mariology. Protestants denounce the
veneration of Mary as practiced by Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

The four dogmas of Roman Catholic Mariology are: 1) the title “Mother of God”; 2) the
Immaculate Conception; 3) the Perpetual Virginity of Mary; and 4) the Assumption of Mary.
 CHAPTER I: THE LIFE OF MARY

A. THE PERSON OF MARY

The meaning of the name Mary:

• In Hebrew: Miryam means the Exalted One;

• In Greek: Maria, Mariam can mean “lady”, “beautiful”, or “well-beloved”
• In Latin: Mar means sea (song: star of the sea)
• In Typology: Eva inverted into Ave: Mary is the 2nd Eve as Jesus is the 2nd Adam; the tree in the
Garden caused the fall of humanity; the tree in Calvary caused the salvation of all humanity.

Who is Mary?

Mary, also known as St. Mary the Virgin, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Mary, Mary Mother of God or the
Virgin Mary is believed by many to be the greatest of all Christian saints. The Virgin Mother "was, after
her
Son, exalted by divine grace above all angels and men."

Mary is venerated with a special cult, called by St. Thomas Aquinas, hyperdulia, as the holiest of all
creatures. The main events of her life are celebrated as liturgical feasts of the universal Church.

Mary's life and role in the history of salvation is foreshadowed in the Old Testament, while the events of
her life are recorded in the New Testament. Traditionally, she was declared the daughter of Sts. Joachim
and Anne. Born in Jerusalem, Mary was presented in the Temple and took a vow of virginity. Living in
Nazareth, Mary was visited by the archangel Gabriel, who announced to her that she would become the
Mother of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit.

She became betrothed to St. Joseph and went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was bearing St. John the
Baptist. Acknowledged by Elizabeth as the Mother of God, Mary intoned the Magnificat.
What is the meaning of Magnificat?

Magnificat, also called Canticle of Mary or Ode of the Theotokos, in Christianity, the hymn of praise by
Mary, the mother of Jesus, found in Luke 1:46–55. ... It is named after the first word of its first line in
Latin (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soul magnifies the Lord”).

The Magnificat

The Canticle of the Blessed Virgin

The following table contains both the Latin prayer and an English translation.
My soul doth magnify ["declare the
Magnificat anima mea Dominum; greatness of"] the Lord.

Et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo, And my spirit rejoiceth; in God my

Salutari meo. Saviour.

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae Because He hath looked down on the
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent lowliness of His handmaid: for behold
omnes generatones. henceforth all generations will call me
blessed.

Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: Because the Mighty One hath done
et sanctum nomen ejus. great things for me: and holy is His
name.

Et misericordia ejus a progenie in And His mercy is generation to

progenies timentibus eum. generation: on those who fear Him.

Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: He showeth might in His arm: Hi

dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. scattereth the proud in the conceit of
their heart.

Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit He casteth down the mighty from their
humiles. throne: and exalteth the lowly.

Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites He filleth the hungry with good things:
dimisit inanes. and the rich He sendeth away empty.

Suscepit Israel, puerum suum, He hath received His servant Israel:

recordatus misericordiae suae. being mindful of His mercy.

Sicut locutes est ad patres nostros, And He spake to our fathers: to

Abraham, et semini ejus in saecula. Abraham and his seed forever.

What does the Magnificat reveal about the nature of God?

What the Magnificat reveals about the nature of God. God is a savior because he
remembers the lowly. ... God is caring/protecting because he exalts the humble. He is a
provider/sustainer because he fills the hungry.

What does Mary thank God for in her song?

Mary magnifies the Lord her God through song. She proclaims His goodness from the depth of
her heart, soul and spirit as she reflects and dwells on His keeping of His covenant promise
concerning His people.
 CHAPTER II: MARY IN SCRIPTURES

OBJECTIVES:

1. To explain in their words the Biblical texts about Mary

2. To appreciate the special role of Mary in salvation though the Bible
3. To allot time for Bible reading as a student in a Catholic school

Let’s get Started!

Catholics never have worshiped Mary as a goddess, but we do recognize that her soul, like every other
soul ever made, is very much alive. People who say that Mary is dead sound more like atheists than like
Christians. Mary says that her soul "magnifies the Lord", which makes Jesus clearer, more in focus, and
larger. That's a great lens to be looking at Jesus through. According to Gabriel, Mary was full of grace
before the incarnation of Jesus, which indicates that Mary was part of the heavenly plan all along, not a
random choice.

Mary is the daughter of God the Father, the bride of the Holy Spirit, and the mother of Jesus. That
would make it almost blasphemous to put her down on every occasion. As Gabriel said, in a message
from God, "Hail Mary!" Catholics agree wholeheartedly with Gabriel!

Here are some scripture quotes that refer to the Mother of God.

At enmity with satan

Genesis 3:15: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he
shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

Christ will be born of a virgin

Isaiah 7:14:Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a
son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Full of Grace before the incarnation

Luke 1:26-28:in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the
virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

Mary sanctifies the greatest man (John the Baptist) while he is still in the womb

Luke 1:15:for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will
be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

Luke 1:41:And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

Mary's Blessed Fruit

Luke 1:42:and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb!

Luke 6:43-44: For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree
is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble
bush.

Mary is the Mother of God

Luke 1:43:And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Mary's need of a savior

Luke 1:47: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Most Blessed Woman of all time

Luke 1:48: for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all
generations will call me blessed;

What God has done for her

Luke 1:49: for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Mary's sufferings united with Jesus'

Luke 2:34-35:and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall
and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your
own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

Mary's total obedience to God more important than her motherhood

Luke 11:27-28:As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the
womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear
the word of God and keep it!"
Mary's role in intercession with Jesus

John 2:3-5:When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said
to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the
servants, "Do whatever he tells you.

Mary is our Mother

John 19:26-27: When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his
mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from
that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Revelation 12:17:Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of
her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he
stood on the sand of the sea.

Mary and Jesus are united as one (as are all of the saints in heaven)

1 Corinthians 6:17: But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Mary, the New Testament Ark of the Covenant

Revelation 11:19-12:1:Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen
within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and
heavy hail.And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;

Mary's body is in heaven

Revelation 12:1:And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;

Mary is Queen of Heaven

Revelation 12:1:And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;

Still at enmity with Satan

Revelation 12:17:Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of
her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood
on the sand of the sea.