Mary

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Singinbeauty:
It can be a, um, fun topic to explore and those reading materials are good to do research on but I want to know who she is to YOU not necessarily the church as a whole.
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It isn’t really important what she is to US as individuals, except in a way that demonstrates her relationship to Christ in our lives. If you are inquiring about the Catholic Faith, stick with what the Church teaches. Any one of us could be off the mark. Who needs that?
 
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Singinbeauty:
It can be a, um, fun topic to explore and those reading materials are good to do research on but I want to know who she is to YOU not necessarily the church as a whole.
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To me, Mary is the greatest example of a follower of Christ that has ever lived. She is an example of how we should live and how we should follow God. When she says “let it be done according to thy will”, she shows the humility that a human is supposed to have. We are to put everything in Gods hands. She is like a mother to us all who prays for us to God.
 
This is my view on Mary…

Mary was a young girl growing up in Nazareth. She was engaged to a man named Joseph and was looking forward to a life of children and marriage.

Back then engagement and the wedding was quite different than it is today. A man would go to a woman’s father and ‘pay’ the bride price for her so that she may become his wife. He would then go back to his father’s house and build a ‘bridal suite’ to take his bride back to. This would take quite a while to do and during this time he would see her and spend time with her. The suite would be decorated very feminine with silks and very colorful fabrics. When the suite was approved by his father the ‘groom’ would go with his closest friend or brother and yell to her in the night that he was coming. She would have that time to grab whatever she could carry and meet him outside. They would then go to the suite that he prepared for them and the brother/friend would stand outside for news of the consumation. When the groom came out and told him that it was consumated the couple were considered a married couple. No ceremony or anything! The brother/friend would then go to the wedding party waiting and tell them of the news and they would celebrate while the couple got more aquainted. I don’t remember how long the couple would stay in that room but when they emerged they would join the party and have a feast and dancing.

So this is what Mary was looking forward to. Joseph had shown interest and was preparing for their union. Then one night Gabriel comes to her and tells her to forget about jewish custom that God had chosen HER to bear the child who will save the world. Wow. What a tremendous shock. I wonder if Mary thought she was halucinating (and I think she did because in Luke it talks of her being ‘confused and disturbed’) I know I would have done the head shake and rubbing of eyes if an angel stood before me telling me that God had chosen me to do such a wonderful thing! But then, even though it made no sense to her how she was to become pregnant being a virgin, and knowing that by custom a woman being pregnant without being married would be stoned she laid that down and said that she will do whatever God required of her. What a time she was having right? And what pain she must have been in knowing Joseph planned to break the engagement but she pushed on knowing that God knew what He was doing…

The bible says that Joseph did not KNOW Mary until she gave birth to Jesus. Which to me and MANY others means that she and Joseph did not consumate the union until Jesus was born. Matthew 1:24-26 says…

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, 25but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Anyways, I wonder if Mary felt labor pains… or if it hurt any more because she was still a virgin when she gave birth… OUCH. But in the end here was a child sent directly by God. I do wonder if Jesus had any of Mary’s physical attributes. I also wonder if, when she and Joseph realized that Jesus was missing, did she wonder what kind of trouble she was going to be in when God found out she had LOST the messiah? I would think that I would be frantic! I lost God’s SON… Oh Geez… 🙂 Continued… 😉
 
Then as Jesus grew Mary watched him become a man. And she knew His purpose for the world. I don’t know if she knew HOW He would do it but she knew He was to save us all. Now, many reference the wedding banquet as the moment where Mary knew it was Jesus’ time to start the process. To start to show the world who He was to be to them. She first tells Jesus that the wine has run out. Jesus says it doesn’t matter because it was not yet His time. side note… I wonder what Jesus meant by that… Not yet His time. Did Mary know something that He did not? How could that be? But then Mary did not address Him and tell Him to do it anyway she turned to the servants working the party and told them to do whatever Jesus told them. She had faith that Jesus would do what was right. She followed Jesus and mentioned that she did not deserve salvation over anyone else. She was humble, obedient, and faithful. At His death she was right by His side as ANY mother would be. I believe that when Jesus told Luke that she was his mother He was saying to take care of her as he would his own mother.

To me, Mary is my sister because God is our Father and she is His daughter. God used Mary as a pure conduit to get Jesus to this earth so that no one could say that Jesus was not fully human. She laid down her life to make sure that God’s will was complete. I give her recognition for what she did because she could have said no. But she had faith in God. She was a wonderful woman who followed Jesus and His teachings. But that is where it stops for me. I do not believe that she can hear our prayers or that she intercedes for us. I believe she is still in the ground waiting to be taken to heaven when the end times come. Just as we all will be. To us, the trip to Heaven will be instantaneous but during the rest of the world’s history we will be asleep. It’s still a theory in the working so don’t jump all over it please. But even if she was in heaven I don’t believe she holds any more of a special place in Heaven than you or I. Her purpose was served on earth and it was her ticket to Heaven. I will be glad to talk to her in Heaven about her experience on earth. 🙂
 
Mary, Our Lady, My Lady, My Mother! What is she to me? Well how do you explain to someone what your mother is to you. Well for starters she is my teacher, the best teacher I have ever had. Because she loves me even more than my own mother could possible dare to dream of. (and my earthly mother loves me soo much!) She only wants what is good for me, her son my Lord and King. She cries when I fail and prays for my repentence. She intercedes on my behalf. Ever since I can remember she has been at my side.

She is all this and more, and you know what she is all of this and more to ever single human being on this plant, because this is what Christ asked of her with his last words. 🙂
 
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Singinbeauty:
I believe that when Jesus told Luke that she was his mother…
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Actually, it was John who was at the foot of the cross to whom Jesus said, “behold your mother.”
 
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Singinbeauty:
The bible says that Joseph did not KNOW Mary until she gave birth to Jesus. Which to me and MANY others means that she and Joseph did not consumate the union until Jesus was born. Matthew 1:24-26 says…

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, 25but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
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Mary was ever-virgin:

Ezek. 44:2 - Ezekiel prophesies that no man shall pass through the gate by which the Lord entered the world. This is a prophecy of Mary’s perpetual virginity. Mary remained a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus.

Mark 6:3 - Jesus was always referred to as “the” son of Mary, not “a” son of Mary. Also “brothers” could have theoretically been Joseph’s children from a former marriage that was dissolved by death. However, it is most likely, perhaps most certainly, that Joseph was a virgin, just as were Jesus and Mary. As such, they embodied the true Holy Family, fully consecrated to God.

Luke 1:31,34 - the angel tells Mary that you “will” conceive (using the future tense). Mary responds by saying, “How shall this be?” Mary’s response demonstrates that she had taken a vow of lifelong virginity by having no intention to have relations with a man. If Mary did not take such a vow of lifelong virginity, her question would make no sense at all (for we can assume she knew how a child is conceived). She was a consecrated Temple virgin as was an acceptable custom of the times.
 
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Singinbeauty:
Matthew 1:24-26 says…

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, 25but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
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This verse is being misunderstood:

Matt. 1:25 - this verse says Joseph knew her “not until (“heos”, in Greek)” she bore a son. Some Protestants argue that this proves Joseph had relations with Mary after she bore a son. This is an erroneous reading of the text because “not until” does not mean “did not…until after.” “Heos” references the past, never the future. Instead, “not until” she bore a son means “not up to the point that” she bore a son. This confirms that Mary was a virgin when she bore Jesus. Here are other texts that prove “not until” means “not up to the point that”:

Matt. 28:29 - I am with you “until the end of the world.” This does not mean Jesus is not with us after the end of the world.

Luke 1:80 - John was in the desert “up to the point of his manifestation to Israel.” Not John “was in the desert until after” his manifestation.

Luke 2:37 - Anna was a widow “up to the point that” she was eighty-four years old. She was not a widow after eighty-four years old.

Luke 20:43 - Jesus says, “take your seat at my hand until I have made your enemies your footstool.” Jesus is not going to require the apostles to sit at His left hand after their enemies are their footstool.

1 Tim. 4:13 - “up to the point that I come,” attend to teaching and preaching. It does not mean do nothing “until after” I come.

Gen. 8:7 - the raven flew back and forth “up to the point that” [until] the waters dried from the earth. The raven did not start flying after the waters dried.

Gen. 28:15 - the Lord won’t leave Jacob “up to the point that” he does His promise. This does not mean the Lord will leave Jacob afterward.

Deut. 34:6 - but “up to the point of today” no one knows Moses’ burial place. This does not mean that “they did not know place until today.”

2 Sam. 6:23 - Saul’s daughter Micah was childless “up to the point” [until] her death. She was not with child after her death.

1 Macc. 5:54 - not one was slain “up to the point that” they returned in peace. They were not slain after they returned in peace.
 
…It’s still a theory in the working so don’t jump all over it please…
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It’s a very beautiful theory. I can see that you’ve thought much about the mother of Jesus. I encourage you to keep thinking about her. 🙂 Maybe even talk to her. 😃

P.S. Jesus told the Apostle John (not Luke) to “behold your mother.”
 
E.E.N.S.:
Mary was ever-virgin:

Ezek. 44:2 - Ezekiel prophesies that no man shall pass through the gate by which the Lord entered the world.
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Which could also mean that no MAN was to come to this earth through a virgin birth.
Luke 1:31,34 - the angel tells Mary that you “will” conceive (using the future tense). Mary responds by saying, “How shall this be?” Mary’s response demonstrates that she had taken a vow of lifelong virginity by having no intention to have relations with a man. If Mary did not take such a vow of lifelong virginity, her question would make no sense at all (for we can assume she knew how a child is conceived). She was a consecrated Temple virgin as was an acceptable custom of the times.
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Ok, hold on… why would Mary… marry, then? Why would she be engaged to Joseph if she took that vow. That doesn’t add up. The angel told her that she was to become pregnant right then and she knew it was impossible because she was still a virgin… remember what I said about the custom of a wedding in those days. Consumation = married.
 
Mary is our mother, Christ gave her to us. (Christ is our brother, right?) To me she is also my patron saint, she keeps me on the right path - straight to Jesus. I ask for her intercession, for she has the most perfect conformity to the will of God, and she can purify my prayers with her immaculate heart.

Does this mean that I do not pray directly to God (the Father, So and Holy Spirit)? Absolutely not, I pray to God directly every day!

Semper Deo gracias et Mariae!
 
Robert in SD:
It’s a very beautiful theory. I can see that you’ve thought much about the mother of Jesus. I encourage you to keep thinking about her. 🙂 Maybe even talk to her. 😃

P.S. Jesus told the Apostle John (not Luke) to “behold your mother.”
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Well, since I don’t believe that Mary can hear me I don’t think it would be much of a point to try to talk to her now…

Sorry everyone! My dyslexia has shown itself! LOL… Yes, John not Luke…
 
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Singinbeauty:
Ok, hold on… why would Mary… marry, then? Why would she be engaged to Joseph if she took that vow. That doesn’t add up. The angel told her that she was to become pregnant right then and she knew it was impossible because she was still a virgin… remember what I said about the custom of a wedding in those days. Consumation = married.
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It was the will of God to protect His own mother. It was done in this way so it did not scandalize others to see an unmarried woman carrying a baby.
 
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Singinbeauty:
Well, since I don’t believe that Mary can hear me I don’t think it would be much of a point to try to talk to her now…
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Why do you believe she can’t hear you?

How do you think the ancients got the prayers of the saints in Rev. 5:8 (ancients would be what we call canonized Saints and saints here refers to all us Christians)?

Do you believe the Church is the mystical Body of Christ? Do you believe the Body of Christ is torn in half, one part in Heaven, one part on Earth, totaly unconnected?
 
E.E.N.S.:
It was the will of God to protect His own mother. It was done in this way so it did not scandalize others to see an unmarried woman carrying a baby.
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But Mary is not the mother of God HIMSELF. She is the mother of Him incarnate. He existed WAY before she was a gleam in her great-10x grandmother’s eyes. She did not give birth to HIM (the Father, the God of the Old testiment) And again, married = consumation. You had to consumate in order to be married back then. I have done research on this.
 
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Singinbeauty:
Well, since I don’t believe that Mary can hear me I don’t think it would be much of a point to try to talk to her now…
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You should! The early Church Fathers certainly did, such as St. Gregory, “Recalling these and other circumstances and imploring the Virgin Mary to bring assistance, since she, too, was a virgin and had been in danger, she entrusted herself to the remedy of fasting and sleeping on the ground.” Gregory of Nazianzen, Oration 24:11 (A.D. 379).

Many, many, MANY more here as well scripturecatholic.com/blessed_virgin_mary.html#tradition-VI

Also, there are many scriptural references to this:

John 2:3 - this is a very signifcant verse in Scripture. As our mother, Mary tells all of us to do whatever Jesus tells us. Further, Mary’s intercession at the marriage feast in Cana triggers Jesus’ ministry and a foreshadowing of the Eucharistic celebration of the Lamb. This celebration unites all believers into one famiy through the marriage of divinity and humanity.

John 2:7 - Jesus allows His mother to intercede for the people on His behalf, and responds to His mother’s request by ordering the servants to fill the jars with water.

Psalm 45:9 - the psalmist teaches that the Queen stands at the right hand of God. The role of the Queen is important in God’s kingdom. Mary the Queen of heaven is at the right hand of the Son of God.

1 Kings 2:17, 20 - in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom, the King does not refuse his mother. Jesus is the new Davidic King, and He does not refuse the requests of his mother Mary, the Queen.

1 Kings 2:18 - in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom, the Queen intercedes on behalf of the King’s followers. She is the Queen Mother (or “Gebirah”). Mary is our eternal Gebirah.

1 Kings 2:19 - in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom the King bows down to his mother and she sits at his right hand. We, as children of the New Covenant, should imitate our King and pay the same homage to Mary our Mother. By honoring Mary, we honor our King, Jesus Christ.

And many, many, MANY more versus are available if you are interested.

Let me know! 😉
 
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