Mary not in Scripture?

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Lexee15

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Just passing on a question that I couldn’t answer for a non-Catholic, she’s actually a SDA. She wanted to know that if Mary was so important…since we as Catholics venerate her and hold her in such high regard…why is she written about so little in scripture? Why didn’t the Apostles write about her not dying and going straight to Heaven ( can’t remember the official word)? If we should venerate her why didn’t scripture make that clear? Anyway, this is the jist of her questions about Mary…any help for me?
 
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Lexee15:
Just passing on a question that I couldn’t answer for a non-Catholic, she’s actually a SDA. She wanted to know that if Mary was so important…since we as Catholics venerate her and hold her in such high regard…why is she written about so little in scripture? Why didn’t the Apostles write about her not dying and going straight to Heaven ( can’t remember the official word)? If we should venerate her why didn’t scripture make that clear? Anyway, this is the jist of her questions about Mary…any help for me?
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First of all, the main subject of the NT is Jesus Christ. He takes precedence over all persons portrayed or discussed in the Gospels and in the Epistles.

Secondly, most of the NT had been written BEFORE Mary was assumed into heaven. Only John the Evangelist wrote of her place in heaven in Revelation 12:1. He talks about the Ark (Mary) being taken up into heaven at the end of chapter 11 and then describes “the Woman with twelve stars on her head”, which the Church has always primarily interpreted as being the assumed and glorified Mary and secondarily as the Bride of Christ, the Church, and as Israel.

And thirdly, Mary retired after Pentecost to live within John’s household. As she did during the whole of Christ’s earthly ministry, she took a quiet role of encouragement and support. Only after the birth of John the Baptist does she declare herself different from anyone else (cf. the Magnificat in Luke 1:44-55), although the Angel Gabriel had declared her “full of grace” before announcing she would bear the Son of God.

The early Christians knew she was special without her having to say anything more about it. Mary truly did then as she still does now, point the way to her Son and says, “Do whatever he tells you.”
 
The original question is predicated on an error, namely, that everything we need to believe as Christians is to be found explicitly in the Bible. The Bible is neither a catechism or a compendium of all Christian information. The Scriptures nowhere claim such all-inclusiveness for itself, and there is no evidence the early Church regarded it as doing so.

Having said that: as the previous poster stated, you can go on to show that the roots of Marian doctrines are indeed found most profoundly in Scripture, and then show the logical development of those roots.

If this person really wants an eye-opening biblical tour of this subject, recommend to them the book “Hail, Holy Queen” by Scott Hahn. You can also provide them with a Bible study of the same name, also by Scott Hahn, here:

salvationhistory.com//online/intermediate/intermedcourse2_home.cfm

Hope that helps. 🙂
 
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Lexee15:
why is she written about so little in scripture?
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But there was a bit more written about Mary than you’d find in a Protestant Bible. There are seven books, as well as several chapters and several verses that were removed from the Bible.

When the King James Version of the bible was first done, it was the entire bible. However, there were some books/chapters/verses that didn’t sit well with some one’s (not even King James, from what I’ve been lead to believe) agenda of what should be seen as right and wrong. In the Old Testament, there is the Book of Judith, for example.

Just because books were removed doesn’t make them any less of the Bible.
Why didn’t the Apostles write about her not dying and going straight to Heaven ( can’t remember the official word)?
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I believe the word you want is ‘Assumption’. Mary was ASSUMED in to Heaven after her death (she died… as much as any believer in Christ dies. All who believe that Christ is the Son of God have everlasting life, but their body dies)
If we should venerate her why didn’t scripture make that clear?
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Several have already pointed out that everything we need to do is not written explicitly in the Bible. However, there are some things that are written in the Bible (Catholic, and Protestant versions)
  1. The 10 Commandments
    Honor thy Father and thy Mother - Mary is the Mother of Christ, and we are all children of God.
  2. Mary chose to do the will of God and became the first Tabernacle for Christ
    Mary didn’t have to choose to carry Christ, so that He could become like man and live among us. It was a choice she made, and a willingness she had, despite being very young and not really knowing every detail of what was coming.
  3. Mary was with Christ for every special event of His life
    Mary was chose to be the mother of Christ, she was there when He was born and became the Word Incarnate. Mary was there when Christ performed His first miracle (at her request). Mary was there when He died on the cross. Christ appeared to Mary before His Ascension. No one else was with Christ for so much of His life. The apostles all had some moment when they wavered, or some history that was not so good. Mary had none of that.
  4. When Christ was dying, He ‘gave’ His mother to the apostle (I always get the names confused, so I won’t even try here). I believe that was His way of telling us all that Mary is there for us, as we should be there, and honor her.
  5. The Book of Revelations (Apocolypse) has many references to the Woman and her protection of the child.
Perhaps these reference points will help your friend to see why we honor Mary.

Anyway, this is the jist of her questions about Mary…any help for me?
 
I heard a wonderful sermon on Mary’s appearances in Scripture. The priest said that while Mary is not mentioned a lot in the Bible, look at where she is:

At the beginning of Jesus’ life (conception)

Showing us charity by visiting her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant

At the birth of Jesus! Witnessing as shepherds and kings come to worship Him

At the presentation at the Temple when Anna and Simeon confirm that Jesus is the Messiah

In obedience to Joseph when fleeing to Egypt and then returning

As a worried mother who searches for her son and finds Him in the temple teaching

Urging Jesus to perform His first miracle at the wedding in Cana, and giving all of us the command to “Do whatever He tells you”

Listening to her Son preach (Your mother and brothers are here…)

At the foot of the cross, watching her Son’s Most Loving Act and never leaving His side

With Jesus’ disciples in the Upper Room as they wait, then hear the news of His Resurrection!

His point was that she was at the very critical moments of Jesus’ life, as we would expect from any mother. And she always showed obedience, humility, faithfullness. We can learn so much from the few passages that Mary is in! And when you look back on it, she’s in the gospels more than we think!
 
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Lexee15:
Just passing on a question that I couldn’t answer for a non-Catholic, she’s actually a SDA. She wanted to know that if Mary was so important…since we as Catholics venerate her and hold her in such high regard…why is she written about so little in scripture? Why didn’t the Apostles write about her not dying and going straight to Heaven ( can’t remember the official word)? If we should venerate her why didn’t scripture make that clear? Anyway, this is the jist of her questions about Mary…any help for me?
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Where is the Holy Spirit mentioned specifically? Is it not important?
 
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Lexee15:
Why didn’t the Apostles write about her not dying and going straight to Heaven ( can’t remember the official word)?
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Why would the Apostles need to write it in Scripture, would it not have been enough for them to have told others about it verbally?

Would it be any less true if the story was told, not written?
 
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Writer:
Where is the Holy Spirit mentioned specifically? Is it not important?
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The phrase “holy spirit” appears 97 times in the Bible. I think the point you are making is that it is impossible to declare beyond any doubt, using the Scriptures alone, that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and a member of the Holy Trinity.
 
Although there are those who claim otherwise, and although the consensus of Catholic theologians say Mary did die, the official doctrine on the assumption of Mary is silent on whether or not she died.

It reads: finished her course of earthly life. That could mean she died and then was assumed or her life on earth was done and she was assumed moments before her death.

As Catholics we must believe she was assumed into heaven, but we are free to believe whether or not she died first or was assumed alive into heaven.

God Bless,
Maria
 
And, no, this is NOT what Mary’s Assumption means! :rolleyes:

marysassumption.jpg
 
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mercygate:
The phrase “holy spirit” appears 97 times in the Bible. I think the point you are making is that it is impossible to declare beyond any doubt, using the Scriptures alone, that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and a member of the Holy Trinity.
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Rats! That’s not what I meant. I intended to write Trinity. Thank you for catching this!
 
WOW :eek: Thanks for all the replies and where to look for this info. I didn’t even know some of this information…I should :o , but I do now. Please keep it coming I’d like all the ammo I can get for my next meeting with this person. Oh, I did go out and purchase Hail Holy Queen by Dr. Scott Hahn, I’m going to begin reading it tonight.
 
Luke starts his gospel by saying that his words come from those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning. Chapter 1 and 2 would have been passed on by Mary for she was definatly there from the beginning.
st julie
 
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porthos11:
There’s more of Mary written in Scripture than Jabez, and look at all the craze THAT guy got!
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👋 I think it is because Jabez it is about material prosperity rather than spiritual prosperity!

Mary teaches us what two of the most favourite words of evangelicals… Faith and** Grace**…really mean…what is on the table is God’s Grace and Mary’s embracing the vocation God had put before her…everything begins with her. It’s because of her “yes” that things happen…the** Nativity was possible only through the naked Faith of Mary. For me Abraham** is the Father of** Faith **and **Mary **is the Mother of Faith. If this were all.…which it is not… she would deserve all the honour given to her and much much more!

Hail Mary full of Grace blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus …amen.
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Lexee15:
WOW :eek: Thanks for all the replies and where to look for this info. I didn’t even know some of this information…I should :o , but I do now. Please keep it coming I’d like all the ammo I can get for my next meeting with this person. Oh, I did go out and purchase Hail Holy Queen by Dr. Scott Hahn, I’m going to begin reading it tonight.
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Some one else replied with many times that Mary is mentioned to have been with Christ in His life… each of these examples we are reminded of with the recitation of the Holy Rosary.

Praying the Rosary is really an eye opener. Sure, the first few times, it’s just a bunch of prayers, but when you are able to THINK about and reflect upon each mystery, it adds to it’s meaning so much!
 
Regardless of how many times Mary has her name in “print” in teh Bible, she still is entitled to veneration. Why? Because she was the first faithful believer of Christ and she literally was the first tabernacle.
How’s that for faith?!
Blessings,
Joanie
 
Hi Lexee,

If we should venerate her why didn’t scripture make that clear?

Whenever we honor Mary we are fulfilling a prophecy of the Bible :
From now on, all generations shall call me blessed
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Luke 1,48

Verbum
 
There is biblical evidence that veneration of Mary began during Jesus’ life.

From the NAB version, see Luke 11:27-28

27 8 While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”
28 He (Jesus) replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Footnote 8, (see vs. 27 above) states : “8 [27-28] The beatitude in Luke 11:28 should not be interpreted as a rebuke of the mother of Jesus; see the note on Luke 8:21. Rather, it emphasizes (like Luke 2:35) that attentiveness to God’s word is more important than biological relationship to Jesus.”

These verses suggest a very early understanding that this woman, Mary, was (is) indeed very special. From a more modern perspective, it is HER DNA that mixed with the Holy Spirit to create the human being Jesus Christ. Jesus truly carried her genetic material. Does this not make her unique among women?

As the angel Gabriel put it, “Hail, Mary, full of grace.” Later, her friend Elizabeth says “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.” These statements by Gabriel and Elizabeth are the very initiation of Marian veneration.

Indeed in the above Lukan verses, Christ is merely redirecting the woman who cried out to the understanding of where salvation lies. Therefore - Catholics, as also all of the ancient churches, Worship God and Venerate Mary.

Subrosa
 
Other posters have given you some places in the New Testament where Mary is mentioned. Here are a few places in the Old Testament where Mary seems to be mentioned prophetically:
  1. Genesis 3:14-15 says:14The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Now, if Jesus is the woman’s offspring who will bruise the serpent’s [Satan’s] head, then his mother, the “woman” at emnity with the serpent [Satan] mentioned in the verse 15, is Mary.
  1. Psalm 86:14-17 says:
14For great is thy steadfast love toward me; thou hast delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 15O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set thee before them. 16But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 17Turn to me and take pity on me; give thy strength to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid.
Now, if Jesus is the “servant” of the Lord in this psalm whom the Lord “delivered my [his] soul from the depths of Sheol,” then his mother, the “handmaid” of the Lord mentioned in verse 17, is Mary. Note: Mary refers to herself as “the handmaid of the Lord” in Luke 1:38.
  1. Psalm 116:3-16 says:
    3The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech thee, save my life!” 5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; … 16O LORD, I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds.
    Now, if Jesus is the “servant” of the Lord in this psalm whom the Lord “delivered my [his] soul from death,” then his mother, the “handmaid” of the Lord mentioned in verse 16, is Mary. See Note above in 2.
  2. Isaiah 7:14 says:
    14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el.
Matthew 1:23 identifies Mary as the virgin mentioned in this prophecy.
 
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