About Mary, About Christ

• Mary, like Samuel, was born to aging, childless parents as an answer to prayer.
• Mary, like Samuel, was dedicated to God from her youth by her parents.
• Mary, like Samuel, was taken to the Temple at three years old, where she lived until her betrothal to Joseph at 12 or 13 years old.
• Mary conversed with the Archangel Gabriel.
• Mary was overshadowed by God the Holy Spirit.
• Mary lent her flesh and blood to create God's incarnate body; He who created everything there is.
• Mary contained God in her womb; Him whom the entire cosmos cannot contain.
• Mary gave birth to God; He who gives life to every living thing.
• Mary nursed God at her breast; Him who nourishes all creation.
• Mary changed God's diaper and bathed Him; He who cleanses us that we may be whiter than snow.
• Mary taught God to walk; He who calls us to and leads us on the path of righteousness and Whose Spirit leads us in the land of uprightness.
• Mary taught God to speak; The Word made Flesh.
• Mary (and Joseph) protected God from wild beasts and men who would harm Him; He Who defeats our eternal enemies.
• Mary (and Joseph) raised God in the faith of their fathers; He Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
• Mary intercedes with God on behalf of others; To Him Who promises the prayer of the righteous avails much.
• Mary tells others to obey and trust God; Him Whose will is perfectly obeyed by Angels.
• Mary walked with God to His death; He Who conquered death.
• Mary received God the Holy Spirit on Pentecost with the Apostles.
• Mary encouraged God's disciples and apostles.

Contrary to what I thought most of my life, Mary is not a footnote or random character in Christian history. She’s not just a woman God asked for a favor. She’s not someone we bring out at Christmas as long as she’s with the rest of her family and we put her back in the closet on January 6.

Mary is a pillar of Christianity, and all these confessions of the excellence of Mary are nothing less than confessions of the Godhead of her Son, Jesus. He IS God, eternally begotten, not made. To disagree with these points is to become Arian, which is heresy.

If you are reticent to acknowledge our most glorious Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, examine why that might be.  God loves His mom. You should too.

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