Blessed Virgin Mary St. Thomas Church RCIA Mary and Jesus • Mary was called to become the mother of Jesus. • Special bond between Mary and Jesus. • She was predestined for this honor. • Foreshadowing in the Old Testament: • Disobedience of Eve • Sarah, mother of Isaac • Hannah, mother of Samuel • “The Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, who shall be called Emmanuel” (Is 7:14). Sinless Virgin Mary • She was conceived without sin in order to prepare her for her role. • The Archangel Gabriel addressed her “full of grace.” • Proclamation in 1854. • Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. • Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but he had not yet taken her into his home. Common Objections The most common objections you will hear: 1. Catholics worship the Mary. 2. If she was conceived without sin, then she didn’t need to be saved. 3. Mary can’t be ever-virgin if Jesus had brothers and sisters. Mary as Virgin and Mother • Mary was the first to believe when she consented to God’s plan. • She is the Mother of Jesus and therefore Mother of God (Ephesus, 431). • She was a faithful disciple, standing at the foot of the cross. • From the cross, she became the Mother of the Beloved Disciple and the Mother of the Church. • As ever-virgin, her entire life was an undivided gift to God. • Being virgin and mother is a fundamental mystery of Mary’s life. Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary • The Rosary is made up of beads on which are said prayers like the Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Hail Holy Queen. • While praying the Rosary, one meditates on specific mysteries in the life of Jesus and/or Mary. Rosary Prayers The Sign of the Cross He ascended into heaven, In the name of the Father, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. and of the Son, He will come again to judge and of the Holy Spirit. the living and the dead. Amen. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, The Apostles' Creed the communion of saints, I believe in God, the forgiveness of sins, the Father almighty, the resurrection of the body, Creator of heaven and earth. and the life everlasting. I believe in Jesus Christ, Amen. His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. Rosary Prayers Our Father Glory be Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy Glory be to the Father, name; and to the Son, Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is and to the Holy Spirit. in heaven. As it was in the beginning, Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our is now, and ever shall be, trespasses world without end. as we forgive those who trespass against us, and Amen. lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Fatima Prayer O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires Hail Mary of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who Hail, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; are in most need of Thy mercy. blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Rosary Prayers Hail, Holy Queen Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, That we may be made worthy of the promises of our life, our sweetness and our hope, Christ. to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; Rosary Prayer to thee do we send up our sighs, Let us pray, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears; O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, turn, then, most gracious Advocate, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of thine eyes of mercy towards us, eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while and after this, our exile, meditating on these mysteries of the most holy show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! imitate what they contain and obtain what they Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen. that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Joyful Mysteries • The Annunciation Joyful Mysteries • The Annunciation • The Visitation Joyful Mysteries • The Annunciation • The Visitation • The Nativity Joyful Mysteries • The Annunciation • The Visitation • The Nativity • The Presentation in the Temple Joyful Mysteries • The Annunciation • The Visitation • The Nativity • The Presentation in the Temple • The Finding in the Temple Luminous Mysteries • The Baptism of Jesus Luminous Mysteries • The Baptism of Jesus • The Wedding Feast at Cana Luminous Mysteries • The Baptism of Jesus • The Wedding Feast at Cana • The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Luminous Mysteries • The Baptism of Jesus • The Wedding Feast at Cana • The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God • The Transfiguration Luminous Mysteries • The Baptism of Jesus • The Wedding Feast at Cana • The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God • The Transfiguration • The Last Supper and the Institution of the Eucharist Sorrowful Mysteries • The Agony in the Garden Sorrowful Mysteries • The Agony in the Garden • The Scourging at the Pillar Sorrowful Mysteries • The Agony in the Garden • The Scourging at the Pillar • The Crowning with Thorns Sorrowful Mysteries • The Agony in the Garden • The Scourging at the Pillar • The Crowning with Thorns • The Carrying of the Cross Sorrowful Mysteries • The Agony in the Garden • The Scourging at the Pillar • The Crowning with Thorns • The Carrying of the Cross • The Crucifixion Glorious Mysteries • The Resurrection Glorious Mysteries • The Resurrection • The Ascension Glorious Mysteries • The Resurrection • The Ascension • The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost Glorious Mysteries • The Resurrection • The Ascension • The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost • The Assumption of Mary Glorious Mysteries • The Resurrection • The Ascension • The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost • The Assumption Mary • The Coronation of Mary Titles of Mary: Litany of Loreto Lord, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Mother of our Savior, Christ have mercy on us. Holy Mother of God, Mother of mercy, Lord, have mercy on us. Holy Virgin of Virgins, Virgin most prudent, Christ hear us. Mother of Christ, Virgin most venerable, Christ, graciously hear us. Mother of the Church, Virgin most renowned, Mother of Divine Grace, Virgin most powerful, God the Father of heaven, Mother most pure, Virgin most merciful, have mercy on us. Mother most chaste, Virgin most faithful, God the Son, Redeemer of the Mother inviolate, Mirror of justice, world, Mother undefiled, Seat of wisdom, God the Holy Spirit, Mother most amiable, Cause of our joy, Holy Trinity, One God, Mother most admirable, Spiritual vessel, Mother of Good Counsel, Vessel of honor, Mother of our Creator, Singular vessel of devotion, Titles of Mary: Litany of Loreto Mystical Rose, Queen of angels, Queen of peace, Tower of David, Queen of patriarchs, Tower of ivory, Queen of prophets, Lamb of God, Who takes away House of gold, Queen of apostles, the sins of the world, Ark of the Covenant, Queen of martyrs, Spare us, O Lord. Graciously Gate of Heaven, Queen of confessors, hear us, O Lord. Have mercy on Morning star, Queen of virgins, us. Health of the Sick, Queen of all saints, Refuge of sinners, Queen conceived without Pray for us, O Holy Mother of Comforter of the afflicted, original sin, God, that we may be made Help of Christians, Queen assumed into Heaven, worthy of the promises of Christ. Queen of the Holy Rosary, Queen of families, Marian Apparitions: Our Lady of Guadalupe • St. Juan Diego • December 9, 1531 • Mexico City (Tepeyac) • Mary asked for a church to be built on the site. • Mary appeared as a native. Marian Apparitions: Miraculous Medal • St. Catherine Labouré • November 27, 1830 • Paris, France • Mary asked for a medal of her image with the words: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Marian Apparitions: Our Lady of Lourdes • St. Bernadette Soubirous • February-July, 1858 • Lourdes, France • Mary asked to pray the rosary, to do penance, and for a grotto on the site. • A spring began to flow where St. Bernadette dug in the ground. Marian Apparitions: Our Lady of Fatima • Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Sts. Francisco and Jacinta Marto. • May 13 – October 13, 1917 • Fatima, Portugal • Mary asked to pray the Rosary to end the war, to pray for sinners, and to do penance. Marian Feast Days • December 8: Immaculate • January 1: Mary, Mother of God * Conception * • September 12: The Most Holy Name • September 8: Birth of Mary of Mary • March 25: Annunciation • September 15: Our Lady of Sorrows • December 25: Christmas * • February 11: Our Lady of Lourdes • May 31: Visitation • May 13: Our Lady of Fatima • November 21: Presentation of Mary • July 16: Our Lady of Mount Carmel • February 2: Presentation of the Lord • October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary • August 15: Assumption * • December 12: Our Lady of • August 22: Queenship of Mary Guadalupe * Holy Days of Obligation.