Mariology – a branch of theology which deals with the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It emphasizes her
prerogatives as the mother of God; her importance as a mediatrix; her aid toward our sanctification and
salvation; and her relationship with the incarnation and redemption.

The New Testament – the only authentic written source for the life of Mary.

Mary - the most extraordinary of God’s human creatures.

- the patroness of our country, under the title of Immaculate Conception
- the highest of all saints
- the perfect model of all virtue

Ephesus, Turkey- believed by some to be the place where Mary lived until her assumption into heaven.
John – the beloved to whom Jesus entrusted his mother

What made her unique and special?

She was free from the stain of original sin and remained pure from all personal sin

Council of Trent- affirms that Mary remained for her whole life absolutely sinless.

Virtues of Mary which are pleasing to God

1. Humility 4. Purity
2. Piety 5. Poverty
3. Generosity

Why was Mary chosen to be the Mother of Jesus?

1. She loved God

2. She was obedient, good, kind, helpful
3. She had great faith in God
4. She had no original sin

Four (4) Dogmas of the Church to Mary

1. SOLEMNITY OF MARY AS MOTHER OF GOD

Mother of God – title given to Mary in relation to Jesus

Nestorianism – refused to call Mary the “Mother of God” (Teotokos) since her son, Jesus was born as
a human being. It was not from her (Mary), but from the Father, that His divine nature was derived.
Nestorianism only called Mary the Mother of Christ (Christotokos). They were accused of dividing the
Christ into two separate personalities with two separate experiences.

2. PERPETUAL VIRGINITY OF MARY

Ezekiel 44:2 – Ezekiel prophecies 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

3. ASSUMPTION OF MARY
- Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul
- It is the consummation of all the other great mysteries and the greatest of all the festivals which the
Church celebrates in her honor.
- It is the consummation of all the other great mysteries and the greatest of all the festivals which the
church celebrates in her honor.

Revelation 12:1 – Mary the woman is crowned with twelve stars. She is the queen of heaven and
Earth and the mother of the church.

November 1, 1950 – Pope Pius XII declared the assumption of the blessed Mother of God as dogma of faith.
This was declared in the bull of Munificentissimus Deus.
The privilege was given to her because:

a. She is the mother of God

b. Her body was never stained

4. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
- the privilege and singular grace given to Mary which preserves her from the consequences of original
sin.
Pope Pius IX - issued the bull on Dec. 8, 1854 “Ineffabilis Deus” which defined the Immaculate
Conception as an article of faith (Dogma). ( Dec. 8, 1854)

IMMACULATE = without stain

The Four feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary that Pope Sergius ordered to be celebrated separately:
1. Annunciation 3.Nativity
2. Assumption 4. Purification

Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1. The annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary that she was to become the mother of God
2. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to St. Elizabeth.
3. The birth of Our Lord
4. The adoration of the Magi (Epiphany)
5. The finding of Jesus in the Temple
6. The resurrection
7. The Ascension

Sorrows of Mary
1. Simeon’s Prophecy (Lk 2:15)
2. The flight into Egypt
3. Three days lost of the child Jesus
4. The way to Calvary
5. The Crucifixion
6. Taking down of our Lord’s body from the cross
7. The burial of our Lord

Marian Apparitions recognized by the Church

1. Our Lady of the Pillar (Saragossa, Spain)
2. Saint Mary Major (Rome, Italy)
3. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Aylesford, England)
4. Our Lady of Walsingham (Walsingham, England)
5. Our Lady of Lavang (La’Vang, Vietnam)
6. The Black Madonna (Czetochowa, Poland)

A painting of the Madonna and Christ child which legend states was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist.
St. Luke is believed to have used a tabletop from a table built by the carpenter Jesus.

Madonna- an Italian word which means “My Lady”; title applied to Mary

7. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Paris, France)

Mary appeared to Catherine Laboure, a 24 year old novice of the sisters of Charity in the summer of
1830.

8. Our lady of Guadalupe (Guadalupe, Mexico)

The blessed mother appeared to Juan Diego, a poor Aztec Indian. Her picture was miraculously formed
on the film of Juan Diego.

Our Lady of Lourdes – the blessed Virgin Mary who appeared 18 times to a 14 year old peasant girl in a
grotto.
 Our Lady of Lipa – an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mother to Sr. Teresita, a Carmelite novice in 1948.
Mary was in white robes holding a golden rosary and said, “ I am your Mother, the mediatrix of Grace.”

Mediatrix- The title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary because she, as the mother of God, acts as
intercessor between Christ and man and becomes the channel through which all graces given to man are
dispensed.

Our Lady of Fatima(Fatima, Portugal) – An apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary on October 1917 to
three shepherd children, Lucia Santos, and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco.

St. Anne & St. Joachim – parents of Mary

Miriam – the Hebrew name for Mary
Galilee – the town where Mary lives

Solemnities, Feasts and Memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary

JANUARY 1 – Mary, Mother of God

JANUARY 8 – Our Lady of Prompt Succor
JANUARY 23 – Espousal of Our lady
FEBRUARY 2– Purification of Mary /presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple
FEBRUARY 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
MARCH 25 – Annunciation to Mary
APRIL 16 – Our Lady of Consolation
APRIL 26 – Our Mother of Good Counsel
MAY 1 - May Crowning
MAY 6– Mediatrix of All Graces
MAY 13 – Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
May 24 – Mary Help of Christians
May 24 – Our Lady of the Wayside
May 31 – Queen of all Saints
May 31 – Our Lady of Fair Love
June 9– Mother of Divine Grace
June 27 – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
July 2– Visitation of Mary
July 16 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 17 – Humility of Our Lady
August 2– Our Lady of the Angels
August 5– Our Lady of the Snow
August 13 – Refuge of Sinners
August 15 – Assumption of Mary
August 22 – Immaculate Heart of Mary
August 22 – Queenship of Mary
August 27 – Seven Joys of Mary
September 3– Mother of Divine Shepherds
September 8– Nativity/birthday of Mary
September 12 – Our Lady of Montserrat
September 12 – Holy Name of Mary
September 15 – Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
September 24 – Our Lady of Ransom
October 7– Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
October 11 – Maternity of Our Lady
October 12 – Our Lady of the Pillar
October 13 – Our Lady of Fatima
October 16 – Purity of Mary
November 8– Patronage of Our Lady
November 21 – Presentation of Mary
November 27 – Miraculous Medal of Mary
December 8– Immaculate Conception
December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 15 – Queen of Friars
December 18 – Expectation of Our Lady

Principal Prayers to Mary

 1. Hail Mary – the first word of the most popular Mother. It is also called the Angelic salutation or in Latin
the Ave Maria
2. Hail Holy Queen
SALVE REGINA – the Latin words for Hail Holy Queen. This prayer is a part of the Divine Office said
From the end of Eastertide to the beginning of Advent.
3. Angelus – prayer recited at morning, noon, and evening in honor of the mystery of the Incarnation
REGINA COELI – recited during the Paschal Time instead of Angelus.

4. Rosary – a prayer in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, consisting of 200 Hail Mary’s and 20 Our
Father accompanied by meditation on the life, passion and the glory of Christ.
- means garland of roses.
- a powerful prayer to obtain the grace of God through the intercession of Mary.
- There are five groups of beads. Each group has 10 beads called Decade. The Hail Mary
is prayed on these beads. The rosary consists of 4 mysteries. Each mystery has
5 decades and is prayed on certain days.

Beads – means Prayer

The Rosary is a prayer or devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a way of meditating on the lives of Jesus
and Mary. When we pray the Rosary, we ask Mary’s help and intercession. The Rosary is composed of beads.
The word “beads” means prayer.

Pope Pius XII – in his encyclical letter in 1951, on the rosary encourages the Christian people to realize the
dignity, the power and the excellence of the Rosary.

5. Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary – the prayer in which the most glorious titles are given to the Mother of
God as her intercession is invoked.

LITANY – a succession of glorious and symbolic salutations

Hail Mary – an ordinary prayer of the catholic to Mary because of the greeting or salutation of the angel when
he announced to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation. It is composed of the words of:

1. Angel Gabriel
2. St. Elizabeth
3. The Church

2 Parts of Hail Mary

1. A preamble of praise in honor of our blessed Mother. It is composed of the words of angel Gabriel and
St. Elizabeth.
2. A prayer of petitions or supplication – a request we make of Mary.

HAIL – signifies deep respect. It is a word of greeting and express our hearty rejoicing with our lady over the
Mystery of the Incarnation.
- I salute thee.

Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, Be it done unto me according to Thy word – words of Mary as her
acceptance of the honor of becoming the Mother of God.
HANDMAID – means servant

The Rosary is a prayer or devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a way of meditating on the lives of Jesus
and Mary. When we pray the Rosary, we ask Mary’s help and intercession. The Rosary is composed of beads.
The word “beads” means prayer.

Magnificat – the song response of Mary to Angel Gabriel as a sign of total submission to God’s will
Hyperdulia – the highest honor and veneration proper to Mary.

Gabriel – the angel who appeared to both Mary and Joseph separately to talk about God’s plan.
Mother of God – the title given to Mary in relation to Jesus.
John – the beloved apostles to whom Jesus entrusted to his mother.
Elizabeth – the cousin of Mary whom she visited after the annunciation
St. Anne – mother of Mary
St. Joachim – the father of Mary
Miriam – the Hebrew name for Mary
Galiliee – it is the town where Mary live

ST. Luke – he painted the first icon of Mary

Mediatrix – the title given to Mary because she, as the mother of God as intercessor between Christ and man

Pius X – he quote “ The Rosary, of all prayers is the most beautiful, the most rich in grace, the one which most
touches the heart of the mother of God.

St. Dominic De Guzman - established the devotion to the Holy Rosary

Founded the Order of Preachers, the order is commonly referred to as
Dominians
- Mary appeared to him and gave him the Rosary and urged him to preach the
rosary to all people as a remedy against heresy and sins

September 8 – the birthday of Mary

1214 – it was only in this year that the Church received the Rosary in its present form and according to the
method we use today.

Blessed Alan de la Roche – re- establish the devotion to Holy rosary in 1460.

Holy rosary – also called as the PSALTER OF JESUS AND MARY. This is because it has the same number
of Hail Mary’s as there are Psalms in the book of David.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

JOYFUL MYSTERIES ( Monday and Saturday) SORROWFUL MYSTERIES (Tuesday & Friday)

1. The Annunciation 1. The Agony in the garden

2. The Visitation 2. The scourging at the pillar
3. The birth of Jesus 3. The crowning with thorns
4. The presentation of Jesus in the temple 4. The carrying of the cross
5. The finding of Jesus in the temple 5. The crucifixion

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES (Wednesday & Sunday) LUMINOUS MYSTERIES (Thursday)

1. The Resurrection of Jesus 1. The baptism of Jesus

2. The ascension 2. The Miracle at Cana
3. The descent of the Holy Spirit 3. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4. The assumption of Mary 4. The transfiguration
5. The coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 5. The institution of the Holy Eucharist