Yesterday’s Marian Question…Today’s Marian Answer…

Yesterday, I asked the question, “what are the other three Marian *dogmas (having already mentioned that the first Marian dogma is the Immaculate Conception, which we celebrated on Dec. 8th)?”

Hint: We will celebrate one of them as a Solemnity on New Year’s Day. Also, the fourth Marian dogma is less than 70 years old.

Here are the other three answers or Marian dogmas:
1. Mother of God – The Theotokos or “God-bearer,” celebrated on Jan. 1st
a. Promulgated at the Council of Ephesus (Turkey) in 431 A.D. **(CCC 495)
b. If Mary is the mother of Jesus, and Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Trinity, then Mary is the Mother of God.
2. Perpetual Virginity – Council of the Lateran in 649 A.D. (CCC 496-507, 510)
a. The council stated that Mary conceived “without any detriment to her virginity, which remained inviolate even after his birth.” Mary was and is virgin and mother. Through a miraculous gift and favor of God, Mary remained a virgin before, during and after her birth to Jesus (St. John Paul II, 8-28-96).
b. St. Ignatius of Antioch echoed Mary’s virginity in the second century. An Eastern Church tradition from the fourth century called Mary, Aeiparthenos or “Ever-virgin.”
c. Christ’s birth “did not diminish his mother’s virginal integrity but sanctified it” (Lumen Gentium – Light of the Gentiles/Nations #57).
3. Assumption – Mary was received body and soul into heaven; celebrated on Aug. 15th (CCC 966).
a. Promulgated by Pope Pius XII in 1950 A.D.
* Dogma is a Greek word which means a decree or declaration. In our faith, it is a doctrine taught by the Church to be believed by all the faithful as part of divine revelation. Furthermore, a dogma is a formally revealed truth either through Scripture or Tradition, explicitly (i.e. Incarnation) or implicitly (i.e. Assumption)…
Source: Modern Catholic Dictionary, by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.
** CCC stands for Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Mary will be on Nat Geo TV! – The National Geographic Channel will host an upcoming program on Mary entitled “The Cult of Mary.” It will be featured on Sunday, Dec. 13th @ 8pm. Check your local listings or channel.nationalgeographic.com for more info.

CAUTION! Since National Geographic is not a Catholic station (like EWTN or CTND), be aware that there might be inconsistencies in the presentation as it relates to our Catholic faith.

Marian Questions of the Week: The most important relationship we must have in our lives is with God. Since that is the case, what is our relationship with our spiritual mother, Mary? Should we have one? Do we have one? If not, how do we develop one? If yes, how do we improve it? These are questions worth pondering this week. Just as Mary received Jesus into her womb, may we receive Jesus into our hearts this Advent season to prepare for his coming.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel,
Fr. Jeff
“Mary kept all these things pondering them in her heart.” – Lk. 2:19