Mary

Mary

By

Father Aquinas

Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. Jn 2:5

ISBN: 9781452456072

Published by: Kingship of Christ Publishing, LLC.,

Web address: http://www.kingshipofchrist.org

Copyright 2012 Father Aquinas

Smashwords Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

The Seven Words of Mary in the Bible

Do We Put Mary Before God?

Why do we think so highly of Mary?

The Titles of Mary

The Extraordinary Titles

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Memorare

The Litany of Titles

Apparitions of Mary

Apparition to Saint Dominic

Apparition of the Brown Scapular

Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette

Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes

Apparition of Our Lady of Knock

Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima

Apparition of Our Lady of Garabandal

Apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugore

The Holy Rosary

The Scriptural Rosary

Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross

Divine Will Rosary

Eucharistic Rosary

The Angelus

The Angelus in Virgin Eucharistic Church

Conclusion

Spiritual Numbers

Abbreviations of the Books of the Bible

Other Publications by this author

Dedication

To the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

The Rose of Sharon,

The Glory of Israel,

My Mother.

Introduction

Many sincere Christian people today ask Why Mary? They ask why do we revere, honor, and pray to Mary? Within a Scriptural context I shall attempt to answer those who ask in sincerity. Within a Scriptural context I shall with love, answer those who ask with derision.

First of all God did not NEED to use Mary to bring the Second Person of the Holy Trinity onto this earth...BUT HE DID. It is because He did use Mary and tell her that she was full of grace BEFORE He sent the Holy Ghost upon her that we pay special attention to her.

If God the Father chose Mary as the singular vessel through which He would send us the Redeemer, should not we then honor the Father’s choice, and honor His vessel?

If God the Father joined His Divine Son to Mother Mary, how then can anyone attempt to tear apart the Son of God from the Mother of God: What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

Let us not strive in contention about the beauties given to us by Father God, but let us honor and rejoice that He knows best, and His choice in Mary was, is, and will forever be perfect.

Let us always love Mary,

the Daughter of God the Father (Lk 1:30),

the Mother of God the Son (Lk 1:43),

the Spouse of God the Holy Ghost (Lk 1:35).

We salute Mary, who labors much us (Rm 16:6).

In an editorial note I wish to point out that many verses of scripture are repeated often in describing attributes of Mary. Please understand that there is often more than one meaning to a verse of scripture. The word of God is not bound (2T 2:9).

The Seven Words of Mary in the Bible

1. How shall this be done, because I know not man? (Lk 1:34)

2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord (Lk 1:38).

3. Be it done to me according to thy word (Lk 1:38).

4. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He has regarded the humility of His handmaid, for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty, has done great things in me, and Holy is His Name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He has shown might in His arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their seat, and has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away. He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever (Lk 1:46-55).

5. Son, why have Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing (Lk 2:48). (He was 12 years old).

6. They have no wine (Jn 2:3).

7. Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye (Jn 2:5).

Do We Put Mary Before God?

Do we put Mary before God?

Of course not! We do not place Mary in a position of God or before God. Let everyone be absolutely clear, Mary is second in importance only to the Blessed Trinity.

Mary is the beginning of the fulfillment of Salvation History. Salvation, that is Jesus Christ, came to earth through her. Her acceptance of the request from the Father remains the most important YES for all believers. Without her yes I shudder to think where we would be today. We thank God for His infinite mercy, we thank Mary for her heroic yes.

It was through woman, the first Eve, that sin came into the world, and it is through woman, Mary, the new Eve, that Salvation came into the world.

As God makes known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure (Ep 1:9), we come to understand some of the mystery and meaning of the Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel to Mary. For the Eucharistic Church an understanding of our Blessed Mother is natural and necessary in gaining full knowledge of the story of salvation.

Let us see how the story unfolds:

In the beginning God created Heaven... (Gn 1:1). In this creation of Heaven, and it follows the heavenlies, that is the angels, God made known to them the creation of man. God revealed to the angels that He was going to create mortal man. He further told the immortal angels that they would serve the mortal man, who, at the end of the ages, would join them immortally forever in Heaven. Some objected, some did not. And there was made a great battle in Heaven (Apoc 12:7). Michael and his angels fought with the dragon (Lucifer), and in short, the devil (Lucifer, Satan), was kicked out of Heaven, and lost further entrance there. He could approach God, but only outside of the gates of Heaven, but never again enter. He has put down the mighty from their thrones (Lk 1:52). It is written: Now on a certain day when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them (Jb 1:6). In holding court OUTSIDE the gates, Satan was present to accuse the people on earth. It is important to emphasize that he did not go inside the gates. He therefore did not know what was going on INSIDE Heaven. He knew about earth, but not Heaven, for he answered God: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it (Jb 1:7).

After God made man, Satan overcame man and God told him: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and your seed and her seed, she shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for her heel (Gn 3:15). Satan thought that by contaminating woman the entire human reproduction would be contaminated with sin. God knew differently. In Heaven He divulged His plan to His angels for the salvation of mankind. Since Satan was already expelled, he had no access and therefore he did not know God’s plan.

The angels were awestruck at His plan, His wonder, and His mercy. The idea that He should espouse an IMMACULATE woman, a mortal, conceive His only Begotten Son in her through the Holy Ghost, and carry out the perfect sacrifice through her and with her is one of the greatest of Biblical wonders: And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Lk 2:35)

The prophecy in Genesis begins to be more fully revealed in Jacob’s time, when he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching Heaven, the angels of God ascending and descending by it, and the Lord leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: ‘I am the Lord God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land wherein you sleep, I will give to you and to your seed...and in thee and your seed all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.’ (Gn 28:12-14). This prophecy was fulfilled when these angels were seen again ascending and descending at the birth of Jesus. (Lk 2:13,14). Mary is the Gate of Heaven through which the Son of God came to earth.

When Jacob obtained his father’s blessing, Isaac said: Be thou lord of the brethren (brothers) and let thy mother’s children bow down before thee. (Gn 27:29). This is the same of Whom the prophet Balak spoke: I see Him - but not in the present. I perceive Him - but not close at hand. A Star is emerging from Jacob, a septre is rising from Israel. (Nu 24:17).

Isaiah says: The Lord sent a WORD into Jacob, and it has lighted upon Israel, (Is 9:8) and: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His Name shall be called Emmanuel. (Is 7:14) He reveals in prophetic timing: a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a Son IS given to us, and the Government IS upon His shoulder (Is 9:6).

Under the Old Testament, the bearing of children was much revered with the women of Israel. The hope of each woman was that she would be the one who would give birth to the Saviour of the world as promised by the word of God in Genesis, and also as the prophet Isaiah had prophesied. This is borne out in a particular event in Judges: "The spirit of the Lord came upon Jephte, and going round Galaad, and Manasses, and Maspha of Galaad, and passing over from thence to the children of Ammon, he made a vow to the Lord, saying: ‘If thou wilt deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, whosoever shall first come forth out of the doors of my house, and shall meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, the same will I offer, a holocaust to the Lord.’

And Jephte passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer till you come to Mennith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel, which is set with vineyards, with a very great slaughter, and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children of Israel.

And when Jephtah returned into Maspha, to his house, his only daughter met him with timbrels and with dances, for he had no other children. And when he saw her, he rent his garments, and said: ‘Alas! my daughter, thou hast deceived me, and thou thyself art deceived, for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do no other thing.’

And she answered him: ‘My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to the Lord, do unto me whatsoever thou hast promised, since the victory has been granted to thee, and revenge of thy enemies.’ And she said to her father: ‘Grant me only this which I desire, let me go, that I may go about the mountains for two months, and may bewail my virginity with my companions.’ And he answered her: ‘Go.’ And he sent her away for two months. And when she was gone with her comrades and companions, she mourned her virginity in the mountains. And the two months being expired, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed, and she knew no man. From thence came a fashion in Israel, and a custom has been kept, that, from year to year, the daughters of Israel assemble together, and lament the daughter of Jephte the Galaadite, for four days." (Jg 11:29-40). This mourning was because she had to die and not become the mother of the Savior.

Now let us put all this in Marian context but with the emphasis on the theology of history, and understand a little more clearly, The Holy Ghost and the words of Gabriel. The Holy Ghost is the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, (Jn 14:26), Who together with the Father and the Son, is worshiped and glorified. (Jn 16:13) The Holy Ghost is Immaculate and is the flowering of the love of the Father and the Son. The Holy Ghost is the Spouse of Mary Immaculate, and therefore is the Spouse of the New Creation.

To make way for God’s plan, it was necessary to prepare an Immaculate ark which was without spot or blemish to carry the infant Jesus. Joachim and Anna are the parents of Mary. But God the Holy Ghost placed the seed of Mary in the womb of Anna, which He had withheld in His Heart before the beginning of creation. Mary was not conceived in the natural way of conception, but by God, for He says of Jesus: In the womb before the daystar I begot Thee. (Ps 109:3) This was the moment of the Immaculate conception. This was different from all other conceptions. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Satan was not allowed to enter the gates of God’s temple! Mary was the creation and the spouse of the Holy Ghost. Satan therefore, was not allowed to enter this specially prepared temple, this immaculate ark with his stain of original sin. Mary was not an ordinary woman, and she would not have an ordinary Son, and she would therefore, be a light, a star, for all generations.

The Archangel Gabriel was sent to visit the Immaculate virgin Mary and was told exactly what to say by the Father: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of