1. The Blessed Virgin Mary “Let it Be Done to me According to your Word”

2. Mary the perfect saint The most beautiful thing in the universe is a saint; therefore Mary is the most beautiful thing in the universe. Mary does not obscure the importance of Christ  All her beauty comes from Christ  she is only his obedient, humble handmaid: that is why she is revered.  Mary’s light is like that of the moon,  totally reflected from the sun, the Son of God.

3. Non –luminous moon shines the Sun’s light

4. Mary as the “New Eve” The Church Fathers see Mary & Jesus foretold in Genesis 3:15 After the fall of Adam & Eve, God said to the serpent: “I will put enmity- hostility between you & the woman, and between your seed & her seed… This passage is called the protoevangelium =  ( first gospel) or future good news Mary reverses Eve’s disobedience with her obedience

5. His Seed Her Seed

6. Jesus is the “New Adam” Jesus is the “New Adam” who reverses Adam’s disobedience by his obedience  1cor 15:21-22, 45 Where Eve said No, Mary said yes  “let it be done to me…” St. Ireneaus said “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience

7. Mary as Virgin Mother The Fathers see in the virginal conception the sign that it truly was the Son of God who became man. The gospels portray the virginal conception of Jesus as divine work Matt 1:18 Lk 1:26 Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit  spiritually & supernaturally, instead of by Joseph, physically & naturally Christ had no human father (origin of birth) because he has a divine Father

8. Mary as “Ever -Virgin” The Church has always taught Mary is “ever-virgin” before, during, & after Christ’s birth The Bible mentions brothers & sisters of Jesus  Mk 3:31, 6:3, 1Cor 9:5, Gal 1:19 But in fact James & Joseph, “brothers of Jesus” are sons of another Mary (Mt.13:55, 28:1, 27:56)  Hebrew expression “brothers” can mean “cousins” as well

9. Mary as “Mother of God” Council of Ephesus in 431  Mary is truly “Mother of God” since she is the Mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself  Mother of God = Theotokos, CCC 495 Since Mary is the Mother of Christ, Mary is also Mother of the Church, for the Church & Christ are inseparable, they are one body

10. Mary as “Mother of the Church” Thus, Mary is the Mother of the “whole Christ” ( John 19:25-27 )  “He said to his mother, ‘Woman behold your son! Then Jesus said to John, ‘Behold your mother!’” John represents all disciples – the disciple whom he loved – YOU! We are to take Mary as our Mother into our hearts

11. Immaculate Conception Mary’s Immaculate Conception is dogma Virgin Birth refers to Jesus Christ being conceived in his mother Mary’s womb without sexual intercourse Immaculate Conception refers to Mary being conceived in her mother Anna’s womb without original sin  “Mary by a singular grace & privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved Mary immune from all stain of original sin.” ( CCC 490, Dogma of Immaculate Conception )

12. Mary’s Assumption into Heaven Mary’s assumption into Heaven is dogma Mary “when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body & spirit into heavenly glory.” ( CCC 966 ) Death is the consequence of sin, and it was fitting that sinless Mary be taken to heaven body and spirit, instead of waiting for her body to be resurrected at Jesus’ second coming.

13. Some of Mary’s Titles Advocate Mediatrix of all Graces Co-Redemptrix