The Paladins Discussion Guidebook for. Hail, Holy Queen. The Mother of God in the Word of God. Scott Hahn

Transcription

1 The Paladins Discussion Guidebook for Hail, Holy Queen The Mother of God in the Word of God Scott Hahn These guidelines were written by VW Malzahn for use in Discussion Groups & Small Church Communities. VW Malzahn, These guidelines may be downloaded and printed for use in Discussion Groups & Small Church Communities for free. However, these may only be used for the personal use of the individual group; no one may use these guidelines in any manner whatsoever for profit; not even charging a fee to make copies of them. Nor may they in any way be distributed beyond the group which downloaded them for their immediate use. The downloaded files may not be copied, stored, or in anyway electronically transmitted. The downloaded files may only be used to print out the materials for use by the small group of which the downloading person(s) belongs. Once printed, they may be passed on to the next study group in the parish. The contents may in no way be altered; nothing may be added to it or taken from it. It must be printed in its entirety for the group leader; the group leader will, of course, make copies of the discussion questions and others handouts as needed for his group. These materials may only be used with the book they are meant to accompany for the study. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 1 of 20

2 Recommended Format for Meetings: Welcome Prayer of Praise and/or Hymns Experience Materials (someone summarizes chapter) Quiet Reflection Time (brief) Group Discussion Wrap up Discussion Announcements and Other Community Concerns Prayers of the Faithful Our Father Closing Prayers and/or Hymns Social Time (last half hour) Prayer of Praise : Our leader starts with Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together tonight. We thank You for all Your blessings. The leader then offers praise and thanksgiving for things relevant to the upcoming discussion (almost a preparation for it), and then ends with All praises and glory to You, O Lord, now and forever. Experience Materials : you will introduce material with a brief synopsis of the chapter or short reading from chapter. This should be brief, as the group has already read and reflected on the chapter. For bookbased discussion series such as this, the reading is meant to introduce and set the tone for the discussion. Prayers of the Faithful : you may use intentions from the missal or Liturgy of the Hours and then allow members to add their own as well. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 2 of 20

3 More Ideas & Suggestions for Small Groups 1. Unless you are meeting at the Church, we recommend meeting in the homes of the members and rotating the location of the meetings. Of course, in a larger group it will simplify things to rotate between no more than four or five homes. Also, special care must be taken to insure everyone has adequate directions. These homes should be relatively near the parish, and carpooling should be encouraged. For a new group, it may be beneficial to meet at the church for the first several meetings or even the first series, if possible. We must be sure to put as few obstacles as possible between new people and their small group. 2. A ten minute grace period has worked well for us. If the meeting is scheduled for 7 PM, we start promptly at 7: Usually whoever is hosting the meeting provides snacks and beverages after the closing prayer. We recommend waiting until after the meeting; otherwise, you will often have difficulties and extra distractions as you try to get the meeting started. Also, please urge your hosts to keep the snacks and beverages simple. 4. Normally, the entire meetings should not exceed 2 hours; roughly a half hour of that should be reserved for social time. If the group has never met before, the first meeting should simply be an introduction to small groups and the series; it should cover these expectations, preparation expectations, meeting outline, discussion guidelines, and provide materials. Even though this first meeting does not cover the material in the book directly, it should still follow the basic format above. 5. Please keep track of the time; keep things moving yet respect the allotted time. While getting somewhat off the track is to be expected and sometimes even beneficial, you must not let it go on too long. Draw their attention back to the discussion question or move onto the next question. Please don t sacrifice your social time to extend your discussion time; the social time is important too. Of course, you may certainly revisit the discussion during the social time if you choose. 6. The leader s version of the questions offers bracketed information to assist in leading the discussions. This additional information offers food for thought concerning the discussion questions. This food for thought is only that; it is absolutely not meant as an answer to the discussion question. The leader may use this information as he pleases. He may find it useful in promoting discussion or insuring important issues are covered in the discussion. 7. The leader should make the necessary copies well in advance. For the first meeting he may wish to only copy what is required for that meetings, as the group s number may be more in question; however, it s a good idea to have the all the question and other handouts for the entire series to the members as soon as possible. 8. As the meetings are normally every other week, we found it beneficial to remind members a few days before the meeting via (or phone). The group will also benefit by not making the every other week schedule too rigid; occasionally the group will meet two weeks in a row or not meet again until the third week. This should always be to accommodate members unforeseen scheduling problems, or perhaps to work around a holiday. Remember that meeting regularly is vital to the success of the group; the group needs to meet at least every three weeks. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 3 of 20

4 Prepare for the Discussions While most Discussion Groups or Bible studies encourage prior preparation at home, few actually require it, and it is not usually essential for them. This discussion series is quite different. It is absolutely essential that members carefully read the chapter before the discussion and contemplate it. It is also essential to review the discussion questions ahead of time; we encourage members to answer them ahead of time and even jot down abbreviated answers on the question sheet. While each group of questions usually includes relational questions anyone should be able to respond to, most groups of questions also include questions diving deeply into the particular concepts covered in the reading. These may be deep and unfamiliar concepts requiring some deep reflection. At times the success of the discussion will depend on the group s efforts in reflecting on these concepts and the accompanying questions prior to the meeting. As always, your group will get out of these discussions in proportion to what your group puts into the discussion prior to meeting. Discussion Group or Small Church Community? We create discussion series (modules) for both Discussion Groups and Small Church Communities. The Discussion Group is run more or less the same way as the Small Church Community; however, the members commitment is only for the duration of the series, and they are not involved in the Small Church Community vision and movement. It is our hope that discussion series like this one will lead the Discussion Group to become a Small Church Community; however, we are confident the members will benefit greatly from this series regardless. Your Input Please make note of any problems you encounter or suggestions you may have concerning this study series or concerning our approach in general. These are most often found quite helpful to us. All thoughts and comments are encouraged and appreciated. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 4 of 20

5 Introduction: Every Mother s Son & Chapter 1: My Type of Mother: The Loving Logic of Mary s Maternity 1. Why had Scott Hahn seen the rosary and the Virgin Mary as obstacles that came between [his] Grandma and Jesus Christ? Why do Protestants largely avoid talking about Mary? 2. Is the Holy Trinity simply like a family, or is the Holy Trinity a family? [Discuss before going on] While one might rename the Trinity as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, why would this do the Trinity a great injustice? 3. What does theological tradition mean by the footprints of the Trinity? 4. What is typology? What are some examples of this for Jesus? [Discuss before going on] What are examples of typology regarding Mary? Have they affected your perception of Mary? 5. Why do we consider Mary our mother? What has this meant to you personally? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 5 of 20

6 Introduction: Every Mother s Son & Chapter 1: My Type of Mother: The Loving Logic of Mary s Maternity 1. Why had Scott Hahn seen the rosary and the Virgin Mary as obstacles that came between [his] Grandma and Jesus Christ? Why do Protestants largely avoid talking about Mary? For many Protestants, Mary represents everything that is wrong with the Catholic Church. Praying to Mary and the saints, many insist, is worshipping Mary and the saints. They don t see Mary and the saints leading us to Christ; the don t understand the journey to God we are on, nor do they understand the Communion of Saints, that we all connected as the Family of God and all working together for the ever fuller conversion of all. 2. Is the Holy Trinity simply like a family, or is the Holy Trinity a family? [Discuss before going on] While one might rename the Trinity as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, why would this do the Trinity a great injustice? God is not like a family, God is a family; God is everything that families are meant to be. Only God is the perfect family, as only God is the perfect Father. Our families are pale reflections of the One True Family, the Trinity; our families are like families. The love that grows within a healthy family is meant to point to the greater love and truth of God s family, the Holy Trinity. 3. What does theological tradition mean by the footprints of the Trinity? First, it may suggest that all of creation offers clues to the truth of God. Second, the revealed truth about God s Trinitarian nature, God as family, should affect our understanding of all His work and everything else, as this is the central mystery of our faith and reveals the deepest meaning of what God does. 4. What is typology? What are some examples of this for Jesus? [Discuss before going on] What are examples of typology regarding Mary? Have they affected your perception of Mary? A) The study of types, these being the real person, place, thing, or event in the Old Testament that foreshadow something far greater in the New Testament. B) New Adam, Abraham s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, New Moses, paschal lamb, etc C) New Eve, Sarah, Queen Mother, Ark of the Covenant, etc 5. Why do we consider Mary our mother? What has this meant to you personally? A) Jesus, our Elder Brother, has told us she is our Mother. We, like Jesus, are bound to love and honor our Mother. Christ has always taught us this through His church as well. B) Personal Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 6 of 20

7 Chapter 2: Christmas s Eve: Mary s Motherhood Is Eden Revisited 1. Why did the early Christians call Genesis the first Gospel? [Discuss before going on] How do the New Adam and the New Eve undo the tragic failure of the First Adam and the First Eve? 2. It is easy to misunderstand Jesus words to Mary at the wedding feast at Cana. How do some misunderstand this episode? How should we understand it? [Discuss before going on] Why do you think Jesus did as she asked? 3. What is the significance of addressing Mary as Woman? How is all this connected to Adam and Eve? [Discuss before going on] What is the most basic difference between Eve and Mary? 4. Why does Hahn place such weight in the quotes of Justin and Irenaeus? What should we learn from them regarding Mary? 5. Do you find it difficult to imagine the first sinless Eve saying no to God and falling into sin? What would that have been like? [Discuss before going on] Is it more or less difficult to imagine the Second Eve saying yes and remaining sinless? What would that have been like? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 7 of 20

8 Chapter 2: Christmas s Eve: Mary s Motherhood Is Eden Revisited 1. Why did the early Christians call Genesis the first Gospel? [Review by reading second paragraph on page 32 and discuss further] How do the New Adam and the New Eve undo the tragic failure of the First Adam and the First Eve? A) Read second paragraph on page 32. On a related note, the Gospel of John starts off like the creation account, the seven days of the new creation, leading right into the wedding feast at Cana on the seventh day. B) Jesus and Mary both trusted in the Father and were obedient to Him, though it was immeasurably difficulty for both of them. 2. It is easy to misunderstand Jesus words to Mary at the wedding feast at Cana. How do some misunderstand this episode? How should we understand it? [Discuss before going on] Why do you think Jesus did as she asked? A) Some suggest Jesus reproached Mary when He says, what have you to do with me? However, everywhere we find this common Hebrew phrase, it conveys respect and even deference. Perhaps the better translation might be What are you directing me to do? My hour has no yet come. B) As the First Eve led the First Adam into sin, the Second Eve leads the Second Adam into His first glorious work. C) Primarily out of love and respect for her, but also to begin His great ministry. 3. What is the significance of addressing Mary as Woman? How is all this connected to Adam and Eve? [Discuss before going on] What is the most basic difference between Eve and Mary? A) Eve was the Woman, the first woman and the mother of all. Mary, as the Second Eve, is the Woman, the woman and mother of a New Creation and the spiritual mother of all, the representative of all. Jesus also calls her woman when He represents her to John as John s mother and John to her as her son. She is the New Eve and John is representative of all Christ s brethren, all Christians. B) Mary trusted in the Father and said yes to what He asked, remaining ever obedient. She did this even though it was immeasurably difficulty for her, as the incarnation appeared to the worldly as terrible sin and scandal. 4. Why does Hahn place such weight in the quotes of Justin and Irenaeus? What should we learn from them regarding Mary? A) They were early church fathers who spoke of Mary as the New Eve and gave us insight into correctly understanding what John was saying as well as the entire early church. Irenaeus was even taught by an immediate disciple of John. B) They offer us the legitimate understanding of John s teaching on Mary, that it is both beautiful and reliable. They offer us an insight into the mind of the early Church and how God had prepared for Mary s special role from the very creation of the world. 5. Do you find it difficult to imagine the first sinless Eve saying no to God and falling into sin? What would that have been like? [Discuss before going on] Is it more or less difficult to imagine the Second Eve saying yes and remaining sinless? What would that have been like? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 8 of 20

9 Chapter 3: Venerators of the Lost Ark: Israel & the Bearer of the New Covenant 1. According to Scott Hahn, what was the shock of Revelations for the original Jewish readers? What did this mean to them? What does it mean to you? 2. In what way is Mary like the Ark of the Covenant but even greater? How does this help explain the great devotion to Mary of the early church? 3. How does Luke s gospel subtly suggest Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant? Why would he be subtle about it? [Discuss before going on] Do you think Mary fully understood what her yes to the Lord meant? 4. Tradition suggests Mary suffered no labor pains, yet in John s vision the Woman does. How is this explained? And who are the Woman s other offspring? [Discuss before going on.] In what ways is Mary like the Church? What has her identification with the Church itself meant to you and your relationship with Mary and the Church? 5. For ancient Israel, the Ark was, in a sense, the most effective weapon, for it represented the protection and power of almighty God. Likewise, Revelation shows that the new and heavenly Israel also does battle in the presence of the ark. In what ways might we suggest that this aspect of the Ark also relates to Mary? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 9 of 20

10 Chapter 3: Venerators of the Lost Ark: Israel & the Bearer of the New Covenant 1. According to Scott Hahn, what was the shock of Revelations for the original Jewish readers? What did this mean to them? What does it mean to you? John builds suspense to present the Ark of the Covenant in heaven yet instead presents the Woman clothed in light, Mary. John seems to prepare them to rediscover the long lost Ark of the Covenant, yet presents it as Mary, obviously proclaiming her as the Ark of the New Covenant, the Ark that bore God into the world. 2. In what way is Mary like the Ark of the Covenant but even greater? How does this help explain the great devotion to Mary of the early church? A) The Ark carried the word of God in stone (the Ten Commandments); Mary carried within her the Word of God made flesh. The Ark carried the miraculous bread from heaven (manna); Mary carried the bead of life that conquers death forever. The Ark carried the rod of long-ago ancestral priests; Mary carried the divine person of the Eternal Priest. B) The Jews had cherished the lost Ark of the Covenant and longed to have it returned. John shows them the New Ark of the Covenant, shows them that it s replaced the old and is an immeasurably greater treasure for the family of God: their mother. 3. How does Luke s gospel subtly suggest Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant? Why would he be subtle about it? [Discuss before going on] [Review by reading paragraph beginning at the bottom of page 63] Do you think Mary fully understood what her yes to the Lord meant? A) Read paragraph beginning at the bottom of page 63. B) Many suggest Mary was still alive when John wrote his Gospel. These same folks point to Revelations, certainly written after her death, as (so to say) canonizing and crowing her nothing subtle here! C) While it seems unlikely she foreknew the pain she would endure at the foot of the cross, it seems likely she expected shame and likely death in connection with her pregnancy out of wedlock, which she accepted in complete trust and obedience. 4. Tradition suggests Mary suffered no labor pains, yet in John s vision the Woman does. How is this explained? And who are the Woman s other offspring? [Discuss before going on.] In what ways is Mary like the Church? What has her identification with the Church itself meant to you and your relationship with Mary and the Church? A & B) The Woman also symbolizes the Church, a Church which labors to give birth to believers in every age. The Woman as Mary and as the Church bear the brethren of Christ, her other offspring, they struggle with them and for them. C) The Woman is also a symbol of the Church, as is Mary. The Church too bears God into the world, both the word of God and the body of God, the Eucharist. The Church in a sense is a New Eve, as it is the bride of Christ (the New Adam), and the mother of all believers. The symbolism overlaps here yet remains consistent and offers insight into why Mary is the heart of the church as no one else could be; in a sense, she is the Church. St. Ephrem even said, Let us call the Church by the name of Mary. D) Possible answer: Anyone growing up Catholic should sense this truth that Mary is identified with the Church in a very special way and that this truth testifies to her motherhood of all believers and the brotherhood of all believers in a profound way. 5. For ancient Israel, the Ark was, in a sense, the most effective weapon, for it represented the protection and power of almighty God. Likewise, Revelation shows that the new and heavenly Israel also does battle in the presence of the ark. In what ways might we suggest that this aspect of the Ark also relates to Mary? Mary, like the Church herself, is in the thick of things in the spiritual battle between good and evil. Mary is the ultimate prayer crusader, ever our advocate, especially when we seek her help. The many Marian apparitions also offer a glimpse of how Mary is on the frontlines of the spiritual battle. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 10 of 20

11 Chapter 4: Power Behind the Throne: The Queen Mother & the Davidic King 1. What was the Queen Mother in ancient near eastern cultures? How did her purpose and role point to the future role of Mary? [Discuss before going on] What has this role of Mary as queen meant to you? 2. Why does Matthew include women in Jesus genealogy especially women far from Israel s ideal of purity morally or racially? [Discuss before going on] Why was the title son of Mary probably a slur? Consider how those who doubted the virgin birth would have seen Jesus and Mary. Have you pondered this in any depth before? 3. How does understanding Mary as a Davidic Queen help explain her exchange with Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana? What does this role of advocate mean to you? 4. Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife (GEN 2:24). Why did this puzzle ancient commentators? What was Paul s solutions? What insights does this offer us? 5. Mary symbolizes a number of things in Revelations; how many can you name? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 11 of 20

12 Chapter 4: Power Behind the Throne: The Queen Mother & the Davidic King 1. What was the Queen Mother in ancient near eastern cultures? How did her purpose and role point to the future role of Mary? [Discuss before going on] What has this role of Mary as queen meant to you? A) The king s mother. B) She had great influence with the king, especially as advocate for the people. She was revered by the people. C) Answers will vary. 2. Why does Matthew include women in Jesus genealogy especially women far from Israel s ideal of purity morally or racially? [Discuss before going on] Why was the title son of Mary probably a slur? Consider how those who doubted the virgin birth would have seen Jesus and Mary. Have you pondered this in any depth before? A) This is a preemptive apologetic strike. Those who would question Jesus virginal birth are shown various questionable women in the Davidic line. If Jews derided Jesus as son of Mary, then King Solomon, the prototypical son of David, would lose four times over. For Solomon shared those same female ancestors with Jesus and the last of them, Bathsheba, was Solomon s own mother. B) The Jewish custom was to be called son of his father. Only a fatherless man would be called son of his mother. C) Many would have been deeply indignant that a fatherless man would dare claim any dignity at all, let alone to be the Messiah, to be the Son of God! While the New Testament writers don t directly deal with the problem in any depth, we know it was an issue. The Talmud (Sacred writings of Orthodox Judaism) called Jesus a bastard in several places. It somehow seems appropriate that those lacking vision and faith would see something low and sinful in the Holy Family; it is only through the eyes of faith that God s wonderful truth and gift can be grasped. 3. How does understanding Mary as a Davidic Queen help explain her exchange with Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana? What does this role of advocate mean to you? A) Mary approaches her son to intercede for the people just as Bathsheba spoke to Solomon on behalf of Adonijah. Mary counsels her son about the matter at hand; yet she counsels others to obey Him and not her. Jesus, then, speaks to His mother as her superior; yet He defers to her suggestion just as one might expect a Davidic king to grant the wish of the queen mother. B) Mary as advocate reveals her special importance in salvation history and her special relationship with her other children. Mary as advocate also reassures us that the members of the Church are intimately interconnected and that the Lord and His mother are looking after the needs of the entire family of God. 4. Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife (GEN 2:24). Why did this puzzle ancient commentators? What was Paul s solutions? What insights does this offer us? A) In ancient cultures, the woman left her family, not the man. Also, Adam had no mother and father. B) St. Paul states that this refers to Christ and the Church. It is Jesus who would leave father and mother to be united with his bride, the Church. C) It is interesting how the symbols combine and overlap: Mary is both the New Eve and the Church in Revelations. Jesus left father and mother (the Trinity) to be with the New Eve, to be with Mary, to be with the Church. Remember, Mary and the Church are in a sense united and intertwined in a unique and wonderful way. Jesus gave up everything and endured all things to become one of us, to become united to Mary and to us. 5. Mary symbolizes a number of things in Revelations; how many can you name? New Eve, New Ark of the Covenant, the Church, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Jesus, mother of all believers. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 12 of 20

13 Chapter 5: From Typing to Teaching: The Mother is the Message 1. Without [Catholic] dogmas, Mary becomes unreal; a random female body from Nazareth, insignificant in her individuality, incidental to the gospels narrative. What happens to the Church when Mary becomes unreal to us? 2. Discuss some support given for the Immaculate Conception of Mary. How does our knowledge of Eve support the Immaculate Conception? [Discuss before going on] What was it like to walk this world sinless? 3. Discuss the support for Mary s perpetual virginity? Why is it important to the Church, the family of God? 4. Discuss the support for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why is it important to the Church, the family of God? 5. What are your thoughts on the title Mother of God? On its history as mention in this book? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 13 of 20

14 Chapter 5: From Typing to Teaching: The Mother is the Message 1. Without [Catholic] dogmas, Mary becomes unreal; a random female body from Nazareth, insignificant in her individuality, incidental to the gospels narrative. What happens to the Church when Mary becomes unreal to us? And when Mary becomes unreal, so does the incarnation of God, which depended upon Mary s consent; so does the suffering flesh of Christ, which He took from His mother; so does the Christian s status as a child of God, which depends upon our sharing in the household and family of Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of Mary. 2. Discuss some support given for the Immaculate Conception of Mary. How does our knowledge of Eve support the Immaculate Conception? [Discuss before going on] What was it like to walk this world sinless? A & B. Mary, as the New Eve, is immeasurably greater than the first Eve, who was born without sin. Being far greater, Mary likewise must have been born without sin. Many argue that it is only fitting that the Eternal Father should prepare her for being Jesus mother in this manner. Likewise, they argue that this is how Jesus, the Son of God, fulfills the law to honor His mother. Also, the early church fathers likewise proclaim Mary s sinless state. C. As Jesus was the man of sorrows, I suspect our Lady was the woman of sorrows. Being her son s mother, she wasn t there to judge anyone. The sinful people around here did not anger or repulse her, rather they greatly saddened her, as she saw the truth clearly and knew all Jesus meant for them to have and to become. Of course, her greatest sorrow came with the passion of our Lord, as her greatest joy came with His Easter victory. 3. Discuss the support for Mary s perpetual virginity? Why is it important to the Church, the family of God? A. Saint Thomas Aquinas summed it up: In order that Christ s body might be shown to be a real body, He was born of a woman. In order that His Godhead might be made clear, He was born of a virgin. Mary s virginal motherhood guarantees both Jesus divinity and His humanity. Also, Mary questioned how she was to become pregnant, even though she was betrothed to Joseph. Wouldn t she have assumed she would become pregnant in the normal course of nature? She did not, which implies that she did not intend to have the opportunity to conceive a child, that she intended to remain a virgin even after marrying Joseph. B. Again, as Aquinas said, In order that Christ s body might be shown to be a real body, He was born of a woman. In order that His Godhead might be made clear, He was born of a virgin. Who Jesus and Mary are is completely intertwined. On top of that, the Church has always seen Mary foremost as the Virgin, often she is simply called the Virgin. This foremost is who Mary is. And this virginal motherhood fits perfectly with Jesus insistence that the family of God is a spiritual family, that those who are His mother or brothers are the ones who do God s will, who are pure and of the spirit of God. Mary s motherhood is an ultimately spiritual motherhood, as we know in her being our mother. And Jesus made it clear that this spiritual kinship is far greater than the kinship of mere blood. Her virginal motherhood speaks volumes of her spiritual motherhood. 4. Discuss the support for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why is it important to the Church, the family of God? A. Hahn effectively argues that the woman clothed with the sun in Revelations is not only Mary but this scene is footage of her assumption and coronation! Documentary evidence of the assumption stretches back to the fourth century. By the end of the sixth century, the doctrine and the feast day were already universally established in the Church. There is no evidence that the teaching was seriously challenged or disputed during the period of the Fathers; nor did any church or city ever claim to own the relics of the Blessed Virgin. B. As everything here, the assumption speaks volumes about Jesus relationship with Mary, how He followed God s law perfectly in honoring His mother. It also speaks volumes about our relationship with Mary as our mother, and of our following God s will Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 14 of 20

15 to honor her as our mother. It also speaks of knowing Jesus through Mary, as when these truths of Mary are ignored, the truth of Christ is soon diluted and then denied. The truth of Jesus and Mary are thoroughly intertwined and these thoroughly support each other. 5. What are your thoughts on the title Mother of God? On its history as mention in this book? A. As mentioned earlier, the title, as everything about Mary, is thoroughly intertwined with who Jesus is and with preserving the Christian truth of the incarnation and our eternal inheritance into the family of God. B. With much scriptural support, the title Mother of God went uncontested in the first centuries of the Church If He is God and Mary is His mother, then she is the Mother of God. Some have been uneasy with the incarnation itself, as seen in their hesitance to say God was born in a manger in Bethlehem or that God died on the cross or that Mary is the Mother of God; however, the Church has always stated these things plainly and without contradiction; the Church has always insisted that whatever one says about either of Christ s natures can be said truly of Christ Himself; for the two natures, divine and human, were united in Him, in one person. Some have worried that the title suggests that somehow Mary was the originator of God utter nonsense. St. Cyril pointed out that a mother does not give birth to a nature; she gives birth to a person. Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. When the Church made the title official, there was enormous celebration among the people. It was important to them as their own mother was also the Mother of God! We the Church are truly the family of God and nothing will dilute or obscure the truth and beauty of the incarnation. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 15 of 20

16 Chapter 6: What About the Children? : The Queen Mother & the Royal Family 1. The Son of God became a son of man, so that the sons of men might becomes sons of God (Saint Athanasius). What does this mean to us? Why does Hahn say that after two millennia, we need right now to recover the early church s sense of awe, astonishment, and gratitude for this gift at the heart of our redemption? 2. Why is the woman in Revelations still in labor even though she s in heaven? What birth is this? [Discuss before going on.] What does it mean for us to be undergoing this spiritual birth? How are we being born and when is it over for us? 3. What does Paul mean when he says we are God s coworkers and I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ s afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church? [Discuss before going on] What does this all have to do with Mary? 4. According to Hahn, what foremost is missing with Judaism and Islam, with Calvin and Luther, as compared to Catholicism? 5. God did not create and redeem the world in order to get more glory, but rather to share it, in due proportion, with all of us. What does Hahn mean by this? How does this relate to the Blessed Virgin Mary? And to us? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 16 of 20

17 Chapter 6: What About the Children? : The Queen Mother & the Royal Family 1. The Son of God became a son of man, so that the sons of men might become sons of God (Saint Athanasius). What does this mean to us? Why does Hahn say that after two millennia, we need right now to recover the early church s sense of awe, astonishment, and gratitude for this gift at the heart of our redemption? See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God and so we are. (1 Jn 3:1) By baptism we have become sons in the Son. The ancient Christians dared to call this action our divinization This is the central and most profound fact about our redemption. We are not merely forgiven; we are adopted by God as sons and daughters Salvation, then, is not only from sin, but for sonship divine sonship in Christ. 2. Why is the woman in Revelations still in labor even though she s in heaven? What birth is this? [Discuss before going on.] What does it mean for us to be undergoing this spiritual birth? How are we being born and when is it over for us? A. It is the birth of her spiritual children. Surely it was the birth of us who, still in exile, are yet to be generated to the perfect charity of God, and to eternal happiness. And the birth pains show the love and desire with which the Virgin from heaven above watches over us, and strives with unwearying prayer to bring about the fulfillment of the number of the elect (Pope Pius X). B. Life is a journey to God, a full surrender to Him, a full realization of our status as His children. We are saints being born; the process isn t over for us until we emerge from our spiritual birth as saints. 3. What does Paul mean when he says we are God s coworkers and I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ s afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church? [Discuss before going on] What does this all have to do with Mary? A. God doesn t need our help; rather he offers us the opportunity to help in His work. His job is raising mature sons and daughters; and the way to do that is by making us coworkers. We especially become coworkers when we offer up our difficulties, when we consciously unite our suffering to our Lord s redemptive suffering B. Mary shared in Jesus work of redemption in an unparalleled way. It was her yes to God that brought Jesus into the world and her ongoing consent on which His early life totally depended upon. She shared in his work and suffering by uniting her heart to His, especially at Calvary; the Blessed Mother became the coworker par excellence. 4. According to Hahn, what foremost is missing with Judaism and Islam, with Calvin and Luther, as compared to Catholicism? Only the Christian dares call God Father in the fullest sense of the word. Only the Christian can understand God as true Father from all eternity through the doctrine of the Trinity. Judaism and Islam see God s fatherhood as only a metaphor; they remain servants of God, yet a loving son serves better than even the most loyal slave. Calvin and Luther also saw God as Father only in a symbolic way; they saw God primarily as a judge in a courtroom Who acquitted them even though He knew they were guilty, all because Christ paid their penalty. While true as far as it goes, this greatly lacks the fact that salvation is far more about truly becoming children of God than avoiding punishment for our sins. We believe in God, and God believes in us, in our potential to truly become His children. His covenant with us is not a legal contract, it is becoming family; it is about creating family bonds with God and all His children. 5. God did not create and redeem the world in order to get more glory, but rather to share it, in due proportion, with all of us. What does Hahn mean by this? How does this relate to the Blessed Virgin Mary? And to us? A. Love gives selflessly, without measure and with no consideration for what it receives in return. This is true love; this is God s love. As we seek to glorify God out of love, God seeks to glorify us out of Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 17 of 20

18 love. He glorifies us by freeing us from sin that we may truly enter His presence and reflect His divine nature, reflect His perfect love, fully join His family. He holds back nothing regarding this glory; we may know Him and reflect His character to whatever degree we surrender to His grace. B. Mary is a shining testament to what God wishes to accomplish in us. He accomplished it first and best in our Blessed Mother; however, He greatly desires to also accomplish it in each of us. Mary is proof that the Father is developing and maturing a literal family of God, not merely symbolic, not merely a group of hopelessly evil folk managing to avoid the flames of hell! Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 18 of 20

19 Chapter 7: The Ultimate Church: What Make the Church a Mother? Chapter 8: A Concluding Unapologetic Postscript 1. Biblical typology can be confusing. For example, Mary is seen as both bride and mother of Christ; is this a problem? [Discuss before going on] The Church is seen as body of Christ and bride of Christ (and mother of believers too), Does this add to the confusion or help clear it up? 2. As we ve seen throughout this book, the Old Testament types foreshadowed New Testament realities. But the New Testament realities, in turn, foreshadowed heavenly glories. What does this mean? What are some examples? 3. Are the Marian dogmas a barrier for Christian unity? Should they be downplayed? 4. How wrongheaded it is to strive after Mary s honor in a way that would dishonor her. How might a Catholic strive after Mary s honor that would dishonor her? What would be a more productive way? Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 19 of 20

20 Chapter 7: The Ultimate Church: What Make the Church a Mother? Chapter 8: A Concluding Unapologetic Postscript 1. Biblical typology can be confusing. For example, Mary is seen as both bride and mother of Christ; is this a problem? [Discuss before going on] The Church is seen as body of Christ and bride of Christ (and mother of believers too), Does this add to the confusion or help clear it up? A. She is seen as bride primarily due to her role as the New Eve, the help mate and partner for the New Adam. She is for us more so the Mother of God and the Mother of all the brethren of Christ, yet there is no problem, as these are spiritual roles and not worldly roles; thus they do not contradict each other whatsoever. B. These interchangeable symbols should not confuse us, as they speak of spiritual truths in worldly terms. This will only confuse the worldly person. Indeed, the spiritual marriage between Christ and His church speaks volumes of what God intends for the human marriage: a profound self-giving and self-forgetting union. Truly understanding a truly spiritual marriage, the lack of distinction between Christ and His bride the Church actually clarifies the spiritual unity rather than obscures it; after all, the two are no longer two but one! And as a spiritual union will in some manner produce a spiritual offspring, the Church must share with Mary the title of Mother, as new Christians are ever the spiritual offspring of the Church and Mary. 2. As we ve seen throughout this book, the Old Testament types foreshadowed New Testament realities. But the New Testament realities, in turn, foreshadowed heavenly glories. What does this mean? What are some examples? Revelations offers us a glimpse of Mary s glory merely foreshadowed in the Gospel accounts; the reality of Mary which we shall witness is far beyond our current reckoning. The lives of devout Christians are filled with greater peace and joy than they would be without Christ and His church, yet that peace and joy pales compared to what they will enjoy in heaven. The reality or our union with Christ and each other as witnessed in the Mass will be immeasurably more profound at the eternal banquet in heaven. 3. Are the Marian dogmas a barrier for Christian unity? Should they be downplayed? Ecumenism celebrates what we have in common and enters into dialogue on what separates us; it never glosses over or downplays the differences. Ecumenism is not about compromise on neither side, nor seeking to accommodate the preferences of the current times. The unity willed by God can be attained only by the adherence of all to the content of revealed faith in its entirety. 4. How wrongheaded it is to strive after Mary s honor in a way that would dishonor her. How might a Catholic strive after Mary s honor that would dishonor her? What would be a more productive way? We should gently witness about Mary yet respect or honest differences and not launch into bitter debates which impugn others motives. Some people practice apologetics as a full-contact sport or as take-no-prisoner warfare. Their goal is to win the argument, even if the means utterly humiliating their enemies. The children of Mary have no enemies. Paladins Small Group Association + Discussion Guidelines for Hail, Holy Queen + Page 20 of 20