Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary

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Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary
BAROCCI, Federico Fiori The Nativity 1597 Oil on
canvas, 134 x 105 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid

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Compendium of the Catechism

• 85. Why did the Son of God become man?
• 456-460 
• For us men and for our salvation, the Son of God
  became incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary
  by the power of the Holy Spirit. He did so to
  reconcile us sinners with God, to have us learn
  of Gods infinite love, to be our model of
  holiness and to make us partakers of the divine
  nature (2 Peter 14).

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Introduction

• The Archangel Gabriel was sent as Gods messenger
  to announce to Mary that she had been chosen to
  be the Mother of God.
• Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it done unto
  me according to your word (Luke 1 38). At that
  precise instant the Incarnation of the Word took
  place.
• The Blessed Virgin is also our Mother. When Jesus
  was about to die on the cross He gave her to us
  as our Mother. Our heavenly mother looks after us
  and protects us just as our earthly mothers do.

ANGELICO, Fra Nativity 1440-41 Fresco, 193 x 164
cm Convento di San Marco, Florence
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Main ideas
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1. Mary is truly the Mother of God

• Mary conceived the body of Jesus, into which God
  infused the soul and, at that very instant, the
  Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Word, was
  joined to that body. Thus, the Son of God became
  man without ceasing to be God.
• Mary carried Jesus Christ within her womb for
  nine months she carried His body, His soul and
  His divinity until she gave birth to Him in
  Bethlehem. She is truly the Mother of God.

BOUTS, Dieric the Elder Mary and Child c.
1465 Wood, 37,1 x 27,6 cm National Gallery, London
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2. Main dogmas and Marian privileges

• The greatest gift God bestowed on the Most
  Blessed Virgin Mary was choosing her to be His
  Mother. And, as she was to be His Mother, He
  filled her with grace and granted her
  extraordinary privileges.
• The Immaculate Conception
• Mary remained always a virgin
• The Assumption
• Co-redeemer, Queen of all creation, mother of the
  Church and Mediatrix of all graces.
• She is our Mother.

GRECO, El The Virgin of the Immaculate
Conception 1608-13 Oil on canvas, 348 x 174,5
cm Museo de Santa Cruz, Toledo
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3. Mary is our Mother

• Because her divine Son is our brother, the
  first-born among many brethren (Romans 8 29).
• Because Jesus Christ gave her to us as our
  mother Behold your mother (John 19 27).
• As our mother, she intercedes for us. She looks
  after us because we are her children and asks her
  divine Son for whatever is best for us.

ANDREA DEL SARTO Virgin with Four
Saints 1530 Panel, 308 x 208 cm Galleria Palatina
(Palazzo Pitti), Florence
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4. Our behaviour as good sons and daughters of
the Blessed Virgin

• A grateful son or daughter responds to a mothers
  love not only in words, but by showing affection
  in little ways.
• We can show our love for her by being faithful to
  our Christian commitment to personal sanctity and
  by showing our affection and devotion to her
  through acts of piety.

CRANACH, Lucas the Younger Christ Blessing the
Children 1540s Oil on panel, 72 x 122 cm Private
collection
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Resolutions for Christian life
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Resolutions to move forward

• How can you improve your devotion to Our Lady?
  You can start by greeting her on getting up in
  the mornings and before going to bed at night.
• Learn by heart the Hail Mary and the Hail Holy
  Queen.