 God’s plan for salvation began in the Old Testament with Adam & Eve.  The precursors of Mary in the Old Testament are Hannah, Deborah, Ruth, Judith, and Esther.

 Hannah – (Hebrew חנה ) means beauty" and "passion".  In the Biblical narrative, Hannah is one of the two wives of Elkanah. Hannah could not have children.  Nevertheless, Elkanah preferred Hannah. Every year Elkanah would offer a sacrifice, giving Hannah a double portion because of his love for her and because she did not have any children.

 Hannah went up to the temple, and prayed with great weeping while Eli the High Priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost.  In her prayer she asked God for a son and in return she vowed to give the son back to God for the service of the Shiloh priests.  She promised he would remain a Nazarite all the days of his life.

 Eli thought she was drunk and questioned her.  When she explained herself, he sent her away and effectively said that her prayer would be heard and her desire granted.  As promised, she conceived and bore a son.

 In the Old Testament, the childless are thought to be cursed by God, for they have lost their place in history.  Sarah, the wife of Abraham, God intervened by giving her a male child named Issac.  Issac became of the patriarchs of the Jewish history.

 Mary, the mother of Jesus, parents were Joachim and Ann.  She is a descendant of David from the tribe of Judah.  Her “yes” to God makes up for the refusal of Eve to serve God, and from this point she is entitled to be called “the New Eve”.

 The gospels present a special relationship between Mary and Jesus.  Her most difficult moment occurred at Jesus’ crucifixion.  After the completion of her early life, she was raised body and soul into Heaven.

 The custom of calling Mary the “Mother of God” began in the Eastern Church.  Mary gave Jesus his human nature.

 Mary is also called the Immaculate Conception.  Mary, from the moment of her conception, was kept free from the stain of sin by God’s grace.

 Two years after the Church declared Mary the Immaculate Conception, Mary appeared to St. Bernadette at Lourdes and identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.

 Promise of God to Isaiah 7:14 – “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.”  The bible makes reference to Jesus’ brothers and sisters, but they are cousins.  At the time the bible was written, there wasn’t a word in the Aramaic language for cousin.

 Like the Church, she embarked on a pilgrimage of faith.  She joined her suffering completely to that of Jesus.  Mary’s important role in the Church was confirmed with here Assumption into heaven.

 Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb to say “yes” to the Father as the new Adam.  Mary’s virginity reflects the desire that Mary remain a special creation in her role as Mother of the living God.  Virginity frees a person to live a life dedicated totally to God.

 While dying on the cross Jesus told his disciple John and Mother:  “Woman, behold your son! Son behold your Mother!”