The Blessed Virgin Mary, Part 3

(Plain Text Version)

Mary Ever Virgin

The Apostles’ Creed states that Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary.” 

The early Church was united in the belief that Mary was a virgin, not only when Jesus was conceived, but for her entire life. 

Mary’s Bodily Assumption Into Heaven

At the end of her life on earth, Mary was assumed (taken up), body and soul into heaven.  Because she was without sin, she did not need to die.  It is possible that she first underwent death, like her Son, who died for us.  If she did die, the Assumption happened shortly afterwards.

Mary’s assumption shows us what we can look forward to in heaven.  If we faithfully follow Christ, we will also live in heaven with body and soul united.

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary accepted God’s request to become the mother of the Redeemer with the words: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to thy word.”  These words are another way of saying the words Jesus taught us: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done …”  With these words, Mary joined her entire life to her Son’s mission for the salvation of mankind.

It is a very good thing to express our gratitude to the Blessed Mother for saying “yes” to bringing the Savior into the world.  Mary showed great love for us with this “yes.”  It is right for us to love her in return.

In the same way that she asked Jesus for help at the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11), she brings our requests to Jesus.  We should ask her help for all our needs, especially for a peaceful journey to heaven at the end of our life. 

It is possible to have a faulty devotion to Mary by thinking that she is some sort of a god.  If one accepts the basic truths of our salvation, this mistake won’t happen.  If we love God for Who He is, we never need to worry about offending Him by honoring those whom He loves.  When we are devoted to Mary, our devotion is pleasing to her Son, Jesus. 

Mary is a model for everything that is good.  We do well to imitate her qualities, especially her self-sacrificing love.

Credit: Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Pocket Catholic Catechism, 1989, Doubleday