2007-12-09 06:09:11 · 10 answers · asked by xelliexlovex 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Blessed Virgin Mary is important to Catholics because the Bible says she is important to God.
+ Mary is the handmaid of the Lord (Luke 1:38), a servant of God just like us.
+ Mary is the first Christian. All other Christians follow her on the road of faith. She is the model for all of us because she actively cooperated with the Will of God by saying "Yes" to God in the plan of salvation.
+ Mary is the model of faith. Mary's faith never wavered throughout Jesus' life, even while watching him die on the cross when most of the Apostles ran away.
+ Mary is full of grace. The angel Gabriel called her, "Full of grace" and said, "The Lord is with you." She is full of grace at that moment; the Lord is with her at that moment, before she says "yes" to the angel's question. Catholics believe the state of grace was with her since her Immaculate Conception. God prepared her for her later role as the mother of Jesus.
+ Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, of God the Son.
+ Mary is a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, a tabernacle. The angel Gabriel says to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow." (Luke 1:35)
+ God praised Mary through His messenger, the angel Gabriel, "Rejoice, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." If God and his angels praise Mary, shouldn't we?
+ Jesus honored Mary. Jesus kept the Commandments and did not sin. Jesus fulfilled the Commandment to honor both his father and his mother. WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus would and did honor Mary, his mother.
+ The Holy Spirit inspired praises of Mary. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women," and "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:41-45)
+ The Scriptures tell of Mary's place with Jesus. Mary gives birth to Jesus, presents him to the shepherds, to the wise men, to God in the Temple. She lived with him for many years in Nazareth, intercedes with Jesus in Cana, suffers with him at the foot of the Cross, and prays to him with the apostles in the Upper Room.
+ Mary was a prophet. "Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me." (Luke 1:48-49) As Christians who believe the Bible, we must call Mary "blessed."
+ Mary is our Mother too. While he was on the Cross, Jesus said to his beloved disciple (who represents all Christians), "this is your mother." (John 19:27)
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 484 and following: http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt2art3p2.htm
With love in Christ.
2007-12-09 17:21:08 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'll answer for a Catholic Church but not the Roman Catholic Church.
Mary was a peasant girl in Galilee whose first child was Jesus. She is a symbol of those who say yes to God. She followed her son to his death in Jerusalem and suffered because she loved him. To comfort her Jesus asked a disciple to look after her. So she is a symbol of those who suffer.
Because she is a symbol in these two ways, we honour and admire her. Some people pray to God through her.
Incidentally Nicola Slee who is a poet and a theologian has just published a wonderful book of poems about Mary 'The book of Mary'
2007-12-09 14:21:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Biblically she was the mother of Jesus. Catholically she is the mother of God, co-redeemer, mediator between God and man. Receiver of prayers. Big difference between the bible and the catholic church.
2007-12-09 14:17:18 · answer #3 · answered by enamel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mary is unique in that she is the Mother of God, the Immaculate Ark of the New Covenant. Mother and Queen of the New Covanent Kingdom, and Ever-Virgin.
2007-12-10 14:36:38 · answer #4 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Goddess...
If you read the old testament, Jesus, and Mary are the false gods Baal and Ashtaroth. The Sun god and his virgin mother (the constellation of virgo) that gives birth to the Sun on Dec. 25th the day it begins its return to the northern hemisphere after winter solstice.
These Gods have had several other names throughout time... Isis and Horus for instance...
2007-12-09 14:14:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
She is very important, especially for women. the Hail Mary is the probably the most important prayer after the Our Father.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee,
Blessed art thou amongst 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
That kind of explains it.
2007-12-09 14:19:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A great place to start.. http://www.consecration.com St. Kolbe influenced the Papal and Vatican II view of the Blessed Virgin Mary.. And this is an important doc. http://www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0224/_INDEX.HTM
2007-12-09 14:24:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
She is one of the saints in Heaven who we ask to pray for us.
2007-12-09 14:14:01 · answer #8 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
she's the mother of Jesus Christ
lost.eu/21618
2007-12-09 14:13:52 · answer #9 · answered by Quailman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
rape victim.
2007-12-09 14:26:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋