God’s plan for salvation began in the Old Testament with Adam & Eve.

The precursors of Mary in the Old Testament are Hannah, Deborah, Ruth, Judith, and Esther.

Hannah – (Hebrew חנה) means beauty" and "passion".

In the Biblical narrative, Hannah is one of the two wives of Elkanah. Hannah could not have children.

Nevertheless, Elkanah preferred Hannah. Every year Elkanah would offer a sacrifice, giving Hannah a double portion because of his love for her and because she did not have any children.

Hannah went up to the temple, and prayed with great weeping while Eli the High Priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost.

In her prayer she asked God for a son and in return she vowed to give the son back to God for the service of the Shiloh priests. She promised he would remain a Nazarite all the days of his life.

Eli thought she was drunk and questioned her.

When she explained herself, he sent her away and effectively said that her prayer would be heard and her desire granted.

As promised, she conceived and bore a son.

In the Old Testament, the childless are thought to be cursed by God, for they have lost their place in history.

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, God intervened by giving her a male child named Issac.

Issac became of the patriarchs of the Jewish history.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, parents were Joachim and Ann.

She is a descendant of David from the tribe of Judah.

Her “yes” to God makes up for the refusal of Eve to serve God, and from this point she is entitled to be called “the New Eve”.

The gospels present a special relationship between Mary and Jesus.

Her most difficult moment occurred at Jesus’ crucifixion.

After the completion of her early life, she was raised body and soul into Heaven.

The custom of calling Mary the “Mother of God” began in the Eastern Church.

Mary gave Jesus his human nature.

Mary is also called the Immaculate Conception.

Mary, from the moment of her conception, was kept free from the stain of sin by God’s grace.

Two years after the Church declared Mary the Immaculate Conception, Mary appeared to St. Bernadette at Lourdes and identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.

Promise of God to Isaiah 7:14 – “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.”

The bible makes reference to Jesus’ brothers and sisters, but they are cousins.

At the time the bible was written, there wasn’t a word in the Aramaic language for cousin.

Like the Church, she embarked on a pilgrimage of faith.

She joined her suffering completely to that of Jesus.

Mary’s important role in the Church was confirmed with here Assumption into heaven.

Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb to say “yes” to the Father as the new Adam.

Mary’s virginity reflects the desire that Mary remain a special creation in her role as Mother of the living God.

Virginity frees a person to live a life dedicated totally to God.

While dying on the cross Jesus told his disciple John and Mother:

“Woman, behold your son! Son behold your Mother!”