RCIA Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults Mary Opening Prayer Mary God predestined Mary to be the mother of the Saviour: "Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14) Who is Mary? The above was written some 500 years before Christ's birth. Luke 1:26-38 (The Annunciation) Luke 1:26-38 (The Annunciation) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. 34 Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35 The angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God. 38 Then Mary said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her. Genesis: Creation Story Genesis 1:1 3:19, from Creation to First Fall Protoevangelium: Gen 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. How many times was the names Adam and Eve mentioned? The man, the woman First mention of Eve: Gen 3:20 The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living. First mention of Adam: Gen 4:25 Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth 1
John: The Good News Revelation: A Vision John 2:1-11, Wedding at Cana John 19:25-27, Mary at the Cross How many days from John 1:19 to John 2:11? How many times was the name Mary mentioned? The woman Written by same author as John Rev 12, Heavenly Vision a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birthpangs, in the agony of giving birth. Rev 12:1-2 Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus. Rev 12:17 The woman Typology The woman in the Protoevangelium The woman at Cana The woman at the Cross The woman in St John s Vision The New Eve The first Eve's refusal to obey God bonds all humans to sin. Mary's obedience brought about the saving work of Jesus, to free humans from sin. Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. (Luke 1:38) The New Eve Mary is the new Eve. Rev 12:17 refers to humankind as children of Mary. The evangelist Luke called Mary blessed : Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared Mary as "blessed" (Luke 1:42) And Mary responded with "all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:48). Reflection: The Wedding at Cana Read and reflect on John 2:1-11 2
John 2:1-10 (Wedding at Cana) 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. 4 And Jesus said to her, Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you. 6 Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward. So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now. Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. The Wedding At Cana (John 2:1-10) Woman An unusual address to one's mother, an affirmation of Mary's role as the new Eve "My hour has not yet come."... "Do whatever he tells you." Mary's intercession brought Jesus' first miracle, even though it was not time to commence His public ministry. "Do whatever he tells you." Mary's instruction to us. 6 stone jars 6 is an imperfect number in Jewish tradition. Jesus' intervention made it perfect. Mary & The Holy Spirit Mary was with the disciples when the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost Day (Acts 1:14) Mary first received the Holy Spirit when she conceived Jesus. (Luke 1:35) Mary Is Our Spiritual Mother God's people are saved by looking up to the bronze serpent. (Numbers 21:6-9). Old Community: God, Moses and the People Jesus foretold a new Community: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14-15) Mary Is Our Spiritual Mother "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, Woman, here is your son. Then he said to the disciple, Here is your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. (John 19:26-27) Mary Is Our Spiritual Mother New Community: Jesus, Mary and us. God uses Mary as a unique channel of the grace of her son, because of her special relationship with him. The unusual use of the term woman suggests that the evangelist sees more in this than the gesture of a dutiful son: namely, a declaration that Mary, the new Eve, is the spiritual mother of all the faithful, of whom the beloved disciple is the type and representative. 3
Mary Remained A Virgin A tradition of the Church. "Your brothers and sisters " (Mark 3:32); "And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas " (Matthew 13:55); "James the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:19) The Greek word for brothers and sisters also refer to close relatives such as cousins, nephews and nieces. (E.g. Deuteronomy 15:12, Deut 23:7, Genesis 13:8, Leviticus 10:4, 2 Kings 10:13) James and Joseph were children of another woman by the name of Mary (Matthew: 27:55-56), possibly a relative of Jesus mother (John 19:25). Another possibility is that Joseph was a widower and had other children before marrying Mary. Mary Remained A Virgin "When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son" (Matthew 1:24-25). Greek and Semitic usage of "until" does not imply anything about what happens after the time indicated. I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death (2 Samuel 6:23) Mary Remained A Virgin No other human was carried in the womb that bore God himself made man. At the cross, Jesus gave Mary to John as his mother. And John took her to his home thereafter. This implies that Jesus has no other siblings. Mother of God Originated from Council of Ephesus (431 AD), where Mary is given the title Theotokos ("Bearer of God") Mary is the mother of Jesus according to the flesh She is not the source of his divinity Immaculate Conception Declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854 as an infallible doctrine Mary was cleansed of all original sin at conception Inconsistent that an all-holy God is born to someone bound by sin Angel Gabriel declared Mary to be "full of grace" (Luke 1:28) Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth proclaimed Mary to be "blessed among women" (Luke 1:42) Immaculate Conception Mary declared in the Magnificat: "for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." (Luke 1:49) In 1858, at her 16th apparition to St Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, Mary declared "I am the Immaculate Conception". Mary remained sinless throughout her life 4
Assumption of Mary At her death, Mary was taken body and soul to heaven. Because Mary has been preserved free from sin, it was not fitting that her body should undergo corruption. Corruption of the body is an effect of original sin from which Mary is totally exempted. It was also fitting that Mary should be the first of the redeemed to shared completely in the victory of her Son over sin and death. She is the first human to share in the resurrection of Christ. Apparitions God sent Mary to convey significant messages These are private revelation. Catechism 66: no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church does not require its member to accept the validation of any particular private revelation. Apparitions 1531 Guadalupe, Mexico: St. Juan Diego (a Mexican peasant) Within 7 years, 8 million native Indians were baptised into Christianity 1858 Lourdes, France: Bernadette Soubirous (a 14 year-old girl) Je Suis L Immaculee Conception ("I am the Immaculate Conception ) Apparitions 1917 Fatima, Portugal: Lucia, Francisco, & Jacinta (3 children 7-10 years old) Asked for the consecration of Russia to her immaculate heart. "If my requests are heard, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the entire world, provoking wars and persecution of the Church." At that time, Russia was a poor country torn by civil war. Mary promised a miracle on 13 Oct 1917 "so that all may believe": 70,000 people witnessed the sun dancing in the sky at midday, a sight science has never fully explained. 1. We have been called to adore and glorify God and only God. Why then do Catholics worship Mary? a. Because she is the Mother of God and He wants us to love her b. We don t worship Mary c. She is the best Saint we have d. She was the only sinless human being created by God 5
2. Mary is the Mother of God? 3. What does Immaculate Conception mean? a. True b. False a. Before, during and after the birth of Jesus, Mary remained physically a virgin b. Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit c. Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception 4. What words of Mary at the Annunciation totally alter the course of history and allow for our salvation? a. How could this happen, since I don t know man? b. Be it done to me according to your will c. I will go an visit my cousin Elizabeth right away d. My soul magnifies the Lord 5. Catholics are required to believe in the private apparitions of Mary in such places such as Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe because: a. The Church accepts them as being dogmatic and fundamental to Church teaching b. Mary has asked us to believe them c. The Pope spoke infallible about them d. No, the apparitions of Mary are not required matters of faith for Catholics 6. How can we in the 21 st Century have Mary as our model when she did things that we can never hope to do in our lives? a. By copying everything she did in everything we do b. By discovering God s will in our own lives and saying yes c. By making sure we do something extraordinary that will make an impact on history long after we are gone 7. According to Catholic belief, Mary remained a virgin... a. Until she was officially married to Joseph b. Until after the birth of Christ c. All her life 6
8. How is it we call Mary our Mother? a. Everyone can link the ancestry back to the same family line b. It s just a term of endearment c. Jesus gave us Mary as our mother as He hung on the cross d. She is actually just the Patron Saint of mothers Hail Mary Also called Ave Maria (Salutatio Angelica) meaning Hail Mary (Angelic Salutation) Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee; blessed are 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. Hail Mary Consists of 3 parts "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed are thou among women. Words of Archangel Gabriel (Luke 1:28) "Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." Words of Elizabeth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:42) Notice the overlap Hail Mary Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen Added in 15th Century Tea Break Petition of the Church, invoking Mary's intercessional role. Mary is the mother of Jesus according to the flesh. She is not the source of his divinity. Mary is asked to pray for us. She is not worshipped. 7
Discussion Do you an experience where you ask for a favour through an intermediary person? Catholics worship Mary like a Goddess Do you agree with this statement? In what ways can Mary brings us closer to God? Recap Annunciation Intercessory Role Our Beliefs: Remained a Virgin Immaculate Conception Assumption Hail Mary Next week: Rosary (Rosary will be provided for candidates.) Catechists & Sponsors: Please bring your rosary. Q&A Further Readings Path Through Catholicism (ISBN 0-7829-0971-X) Chapter 17, 22 Catholic and Christian (ISBN 0-89283-181-2) Chapter 9 Notices GENTLE WOMAN Copy of this presentation may be downloaded from the Parish Web Site (http://www.willettoncatholicparish.org.au) Hail Mary, full of grace The Lord is with you Blessed are you amongst women And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus Copyright Willetton Catholic Parish. The content of this presentation can be accessed, printed, downloaded and reproduced for religious education and personal study that is not for a direct or indirect commercial use. Any content printed, downloaded or reproduced may not be sold or licensed in whole or in part in any manner or in or on any media to any person. Holy Mary, Mother of God Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death, Amen 8
Gentle woman, quiet light, Morning Star So strong and bright. Gentle Mother, peaceful dove, Teach us wisdom, teach us love. You were chosen by the Father You were chosen for the Son You were chosen from all women And for women, shining one Gentle woman, quiet light, Morning Star So strong and bright Gentle Mother, peaceful dove Teach us wisdom, teach us love Blessed are you among women: _ Blest in turn all women too: Blessed they with peaceful spirits; Blessed they with gentle hearts Gentle woman, quiet light, Morning Star So strong and bright. Gentle Mother, peaceful dove, Teach us wisdom, teach us love _ 9