FACT OF FAITH A Marian Glossary “She is that woman who rejoiced in the presence of God, who treasured everything in her heart, and who let herself be pierced by the sword. Mary is the saint among the saints, blessed above all others. She teaches us the way of holiness and she walks ever at our side. She does not let us remain fallen and at times she takes us into her arms without judging us.” — Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate, no. 176

Below is a brief outline of important terms about or related to the Blessed Mother.

ANNUNCIATION: The visit of the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary to inform her that she was to be the mother of the Savior. After giving her consent to God’s word, Mary became the mother of by the power of the Holy Spirit.

ASSUMPTION: The dogma which recognizes the Blessed Virgin Mary’s singular participation in MARY: The mother of Jesus. Be- (“Our Father”) and concluded by her Son’s Resurrection by which cause she is the mother of Jesus- the Gloria Patri (Glory Be to the she was taken up body and soul -Son of God and second Person Father), accompanied by medita- into heavenly glory, when the of the Blessed Trinity–according tion on the mysteries of Christ’s course of her earthly life was to the flesh, she is rightly called life. The was developed by finished. the Mother of God (). medieval piety in the Latin church Mary is also called “full of grace,” as a popular substitute for the : The prayer known and “Mother of the Church,” and liturgical prayer of the Hours. in Latin as the Ave Maria. The in Christian prayer and devotion, first part of the prayer praises “Our Lady,” the “Blessed Virgin VIRGIN BIRTH: The conception of God for the gifts he gave to Mary Mary,” and the “.” Jesus in the womb of the Virgin as Mother of the Redeemer; the Mary solely by the power of the second part seeks her maternal PRESENTATION: The presenta- Holy Spirit. The Church’s con- intercession for the members of tion and dedication of Jesus to fession of faith in the virgin birth the Body of Christ, the Church, God by Mary and Joseph in the affirms that Jesus was conceived of which she is the Mother. Temple (Lk 2:22-39), in accord by the Holy Spirit without human with Mosaic Law concerning seed. : the first-born. At the Presenta- The dogma proclaimed in Chris- tion, Simeon and Anna sum up VIRGIN MARY: The mother of Je- tian Tradition and defined in 1854, the expectation of Israel for the sus, who is honored as “ever-vir- that from the first moment of her long-awaited Messiah, the light gin” for her perpetual virginity. conception, Mary—by the sin- of the nations and the glory of gular grace of God and by virtue Israel, but also as a sign of con- VISITATION: At the , of the merits of Jesus Christ-- tradiction. The presentation of the angel Gabriel told Mary that was preserved immune from the gifts, especially of bread and she would be the mother of the original sin. wine, is a preparatory rite for the savior. Gabriel also told Mary that liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass. her barren cousin, Elizabeth, had : The title commonly conceived a son in her old age. given to the Latin text and ver- ROSARY: A prayer in honor of Mary went to visit her cousin and nacular translation of the Canticle the Blessed Virgin Mary, which confirmed the truth of the angel’s (or Song) of Mary that she recites repeats the privileged Marian words. The time she spent with at the time of the visitation. The prayer Ave Maria, or Hail Mary, Elizabeth is referred to as “the canticle begins with “My soul pro in “decades” of ten prayers, each visitation.” claims the greatness of the Lord.” preceded by the Pater Noster

Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Quote from , copyright © 2018, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Image: Die Heil, Jungfrau mit dem Kinde, The J. Paul Getty Museum.