How do we know Mary is in heaven?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Luce7
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Luce7

Guest
I’m fairly new to this, I’ve been attending RCIA groups and I’ve discovered a lot about catholicism that has really surprised me in a good way.

But I have a burning question (ten thousand actually but for now, we’ll stick to one.)

How do you know the virgin Mary is in heaven, watching out for you and praying for you? As a catholic, is this about faith, is there scripture that says she is…but more importantly, how can you KNOW. Relics have to be proven to be authentic before they can be used for the altar stone, so…has Mary been proven somehow?

And how do you know that this woman who lived two thousand years ago, has any interest in praying for people? It seems odd to me that a single human soul who is famous purely for having a very unusual baby, would spend her time praying for millions of humans all asking questions…considering she is just a human soul, like any other mother, really.

Genuine question. I’m hoping to hear how practising catholics view this.
 
I like the fact that God gave us our reason so that we could come to know, love, and serve Him.

I think it would be irrational to consider that Mary was not with her Son.

As one pope said “it is fitting” that she would be assumed into heaven.

And this all apart from the clues we get from Scripture, and from the apparitions and so forth.
 
It necessarily follows that Mary is in heaven from the fact that she was conceived without original sin, and remained sinless her entire life. She simply couldn’t merit Hell.
 
Well, if and when you get to Heaven, would you stop praying for people down here? I certainly wouldn’t.

But the Church has taught for quite a while (a thousand years or so?) that Mary was assumed into Heaven. So there is that. So if she is in Heaven, she would be praying for folks down here just as everyone in Heaven is.

And since God gave his mother certain gifts (Immaculately Conceived, being the mother of God, etc.) her prayers are more efficacious. Also, being the Mother of God is not small feat. Mary should be the most famous person in the history of the world (besides Jesus of course) because she bore God in her womb and was the Mother of God. Can you have a more important job than that. Think about a typical person’s relationship with his or her mom. There is something special there.
 
Good grief, where else would she, the sinless Mother of God, be?

Also, from Wikipedia:
The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950, in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus by exercising papal infallibility.
Click to expand...
“Dogma” is defined as “a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority” (here, the Church) " as incontrovertibly true."

Catholics do not go around demanding proof for genuine dogmas. You might as well ask how do we know for sure there’s a Holy Trinity. We have faith and accept it.
 
Last edited:
Luce7 said:
And how do you know that this woman who lived two thousand years ago, has any interest in praying for people? It seems odd to me that a single human soul who is famous purely for having a very unusual baby, would spend her time praying for millions of humans all asking questions…considering she is just a human soul, like any other mother, really.
Click to expand...
Moving on to this…

Mary is a LOT more than “just a human soul like any other mother really”. I could write long paragraphs here, but if you want to get some ideas of all of the roles of Mary with respect to Jesus, the Church, and us, you could read the material here in this short 9 day Consecration. It’s quite obvious that she loves us and prays for us and works with Jesus to bring us closer to God. She is not just some disinterested woman sitting around in heaven.

http://www.consecration-midwest.org...day-preparation-with-st-maximilian-kolbe.html

Mary is the greatest of all the saints, and the saints in general, which means anyone who is in heaven, is willing to pray for us if asked. When you are in heaven, communing with God, you are not going to have selfish motives (like “Oh, I’m too busy for that” or “Oh, who cares about you and your problem”) that would cause you to deny a sincere request for intercessory prayer. And you have unlimited time on your hands to pray, give glory and praise to God, intercede for people etc. Although Mary’s role is much greater than just an ordinary saint (see above), if ordinary saints would be willing and enthusiastic about praying for me were I to ask them, then Mary would be just as willing.
 
Last edited:
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
— St. Thomas Aquinas
 
I really like your question! I wonder myself that if heaven is what I was taught it to be, then where is the sorrowless existence if you are being continually reminded of the goings on here.

BUT she is the most blessed of all women! And seeing her relationship to the Savior; it’s just beyond comprehension. The idea that God our father, His Son and Son’s Mother are attentive to our needs, cares, challenges. Major comfort and encouragement. It effects the way I look at others. And makes me love Him more! No wonder that Mary is venerated.

Where I come from this idea is foreign. Actually the theology is hostile to the idea. I’m learning.
 
hi Bear, not everyone is raised in this. If asking questions is “disrespectful” then the church is in trouble. That attitude will repel honest genuine seekers of the truth.
 
nearlycatholic said:
hi Bear, not everyone is raised in this. If asking questions is “disrespectful” then the church is in trouble. That attitude will repel honest genuine seekers of the truth.
Click to expand...
Please read what I wrote, which is “I get the impression that people who start threads like this do not mean to be disrespectful”. I did not accuse the OP of disrespect, so your lecture is a bit misdirected.

In terms of what “the truth” is, the problem is that OPs like this one expect us to somehow “prove” with Scripture or some physical evidence on earth that Mary is more than just some random human woman who is only “famous” (as if she cared about being famous) for having an “unusual baby” (who just happened to be the Son of God).

We’re not going to be able to “prove” a matter of faith, so the OP is on a fruitless quest.

On top of that, it is a bit tiring to see essentially the same exact thread and questions about Mary come up over, and over, and over, and over. Does no one ever read previous threads or responses? Does no one ever google and read a few articles online (there are many) where Catholics explain about Mary?

My father was a convert from Protestantism (Baptist/ Methodist), was not raised with any Catholics in his home, in fact many of his relatives were anti-Catholic and his father joined an anti-Catholic hate group. My father never once asked any of these questions about Mary. My father had the gift of faith and said his rosary every night. I would pray that everybody asking these weird, endless questions would be blessed with the same gift of faith and understanding.
 
Last edited:
No, it’s an honest question it’s not meant to be rude. You’re dealing with someone who has had NO catholic teaching whatsoever LOL. It all seems obvious to a catholic, but I grew up in a very anti-God climate, so it’s not obvious to me. It seems equally bizarre to me that people venerate her.

If you don’t have any patience with newbies then why do you spend your time typing out answers? I’m not asking you for scientific evidence, and if I went and asked a priest this he wouldn’t get his arse in his hand with me over it, he’d just explain. I don’t see the issue, other than you are personally tired of answering the same question. Don’t answer then.

I’m only asking. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

And actually, much as it may surprise you I do take many things on faith, I don’t require scientific evidence for her existence. I was more interested in if anyone has prayed to her and received any confirmation she is listening, or if miracles or healings attributed to Mary have been recorded. Since this is often what they do with relics, and I believe it’s how they canonise saints too.

Interestingly, I’ve asked similar challenging questions in the RCIA group and noone bats an eye. They just explain, I say thank you, and it’s over. I go off and decide if I agree.

i mean, if Catholics aren’t willing to talk about this openly with enquirers…how do you expect anyone to ever want to become catholic??

Thank you for the link, yes I will read it.

Re her being in heaven and praying for us, truthfully I’m more of a reincarnation person myself, hence my confusion.
 
Last edited:
Now YOUR answer makes sense LOL. My upbringing was very hostile to this sort of thing so it’s like starting from scratch. People raised as catholics probably learn all this in school but for me it’s largely greek LOL! I feel an inexplicable pull towards it, but simple things like this…really confuse me.

Some things I’m happy to take on faith. I have no problem believing jesus existed or that he did miracles or even that he was the son of God. Other things like the devotion to Mary…more confusing.

Thanks tho, you provided a very helpful answer 🙂
 
My father also grew up in an extremely anti-Catholic home. His father was in the KKK, I think I said that above.
At the time the KKK was focused on anti-Catholicism rather than race in his area of the country.

I have no idea why you are spending so much time typing out a defense when I and others have provided you with much good information, suggested other references that you could look at online, and also noted that the way you are phrasing some of these things, you should perhaps phrase a little differently, and finally pointed out that we will not be able to offer you an absolute proof of what you ask.

It is not like I just told you to go away.

The fact is…we see the same question almost once a day on here, and the answers are always the same.

If you are going to ask questions, please do not get so defensive when people give you the answers that they can give.

And perhaps consider reading some of the other forum threads as well, where this topic has been many times discussed.
 
Last edited:
Mary is the mother of God.
Where else would He send her?
She was created for this purpose and lived sinlessly.

She and the Holy Ghost brought the world to Jesus in the Nativity.

Similarly, the Holy Ghost and Mary bring the soul to Jesus.

But, also, I suppose this goes into why we venerate saints in general.
We venerate the saints, those who led holy lives and most grew in righteousness and grow like God (not in nature, but like a metal in fire becomes like the flame, red and hot, it is a similar thing).
The prayers of the righteous are strong.

Mary in particular had asked of Jesus’ first public miracle at Cana. God listens to her prayers. Jesus honors His mother.
But that’s not all. Jesus is king, and like the Davidic kingdom, the mother is queen.

So, like how you venerate an earthly king and queen, how much more so would you do such with the king of the Universe?

We Catholics do not believe in Scripture alone, but in Sacred Tradition as well.
 
Last edited:
Well,Mother Mary is in heaven because she is sinless ,throughout,she is there right from Genesis to Revelations ,i would suggest you to read booked named THE MYSTICAL
CITY OF GOD for all you questions will be answered.God Bless,

THE DIVINE HISTORY
AND LIFE OF THE
VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD

VOLUME III
THE TRANSFIXION

Venerable Mary of Agreda

Translated from the Spanish by
Reverend George J. Blatter

1914, So. Chicago, Ill., The Theopolitan; Hammond, Ind., W.B. Conkey Co., US.

Mystical City of God, the miracle of his omnipotence and the abyss of his grace the divine history and life of the Virgin Mother of God our Queen and our Lady, most holy Mary expiatrix of the fault of eve and mediatrix of grace.

https://www.ecatholic2000.com/agreda/vol3/vol3.shtml#__RefHeading___Toc349165795

Chapter XXIX
CHRIST OUR REDEEMER ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN FOLLOWED BY ALL THE SAINTS IN HIS COMPANY; HE ASSUMES WITH HIM HIS MOST HOLY MOTHER AND PUTS HER IN POSSESSION OF GLORY.
  1. The most blessed Lady was raised up with her divine Son and placed at the right hand in fulfillment of what David said: “The Queen was at his right hand in vestments gilded by the splendors of his glory and surrounded by the variety of his gifts and graces in the sight of the ascending angels and saints” (Ps. 44, 10). In order that this astounding mystery may excite the devotion and enliven the faith of the faithful, and that it may draw them to magnify the Author of this extraordinary and inconceivable miracle, I again inform those who read of it, that, from the time in which the Most High commissioned me, and afterward repeatedly, through many years, expressly commanded me to write this history, He has revealed to me many diverse mysteries and great sacraments, both already written and yet to be written; for the exalted nature of this history demanded such a preparation and predisposition. I have not received all these revelations at once; for the limitation of a creature is not capable of such abundance. But in order that I might be enabled to write, new enlightenment was given me for each mystery in particular. The enlightenments concerning each were usually given to me on the feasts of the Christ our Lord and of the heavenly Lady. Especially the great sacrament of Mary’s being raised to heaven with her divine Son at his Ascension and of her remaining at the same time in the Cenacle in a wonderful manner, was shown to me in several consecutive years on that feast day.
 
Luce7 said:
I’m fairly new to this, I’ve been attending RCIA groups and I’ve discovered a lot about catholicism that has really surprised me in a good way.

But I have a burning question (ten thousand actually but for now, we’ll stick to one.)

How do you know the virgin Mary is in heaven, watching out for you and praying for you? As a catholic, is this about faith, is there scripture that says she is…but more importantly, how can you KNOW. Relics have to be proven to be authentic before they can be used for the altar stone, so…has Mary been proven somehow?
Click to expand...
St John saw her in heaven.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, …

Rev 11:19 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

Rev 12: 1. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”[a] And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days…

Who is this woman? It’s Mary

17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
40.png
Luce7:
And how do you know that this woman who lived two thousand years ago, has any interest in praying for people? It seems odd to me that a single human soul who is famous purely for having a very unusual baby, would spend her time praying for millions of humans all asking questions…considering she is just a human soul, like any other mother, really.
Click to expand...
The answer to your question is because, all those described, are her children not just "people" that’s why she cares, she prays for her children, meaning she is also our mother as well…
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top