The mother of Jesus Christ, the most venerated saint in Christianity — Theotokos (God-bearer).
Mary of Nazareth is the mother of Jesus Christ, the most venerated figure in Christianity after Jesus himself. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke record her life in detail: her engagement to Joseph, the angel Gabriel's announcement that she would bear the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38), her visit to her cousin Elizabeth (the Visitation, Luke 1:39-56) during which she sang the Magnificat, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the presentation in the temple, the flight to Egypt, the finding of Jesus at the temple at age 12, her presence at the wedding at Cana (where Jesus performed his first miracle at her request, John 2:1-11), her standing at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27), and her presence with the disciples in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Catholic, Orthodox, and many Anglican Christians venerate Mary with four foundational dogmas: she is Theotokos (God-bearer, defined at the Council of Ephesus 431 AD); she is Ever-Virgin (perpetual virginity, affirmed throughout church history); she was immaculately conceived (preserved from original sin from her own conception, defined dogma 1854); and she was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life (defined dogma 1950). Protestant traditions honor Mary as the mother of our Lord but do not affirm the Catholic Marian dogmas. Mary has more feast days in the Catholic calendar than any other saint — over 20 — including the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), the Annunciation (March 25), the Visitation (May 31), the Assumption (August 15), the Nativity of Mary (September 8), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8). Her apparitions — including Guadalupe (1531), Lourdes (1858), and Fatima (1917) — are among the most consequential events in modern Catholicism, with hundreds of millions of pilgrims visiting her shrines annually.
Mary's apparitions throughout history have been associated with extraordinary signs and millions of conversions. Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531) appeared to Juan Diego, leaving her image on his tilma that has been studied scientifically for centuries without natural explanation; the apparition led to the conversion of over 9 million indigenous Mexicans within a decade. Lourdes (France, 1858), where Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, has produced 70 medically verified healings (the Lourdes Medical Bureau requires extraordinarily rigorous evidence) and millions of reported physical and spiritual healings; the spring water that emerged at Mary's direction continues to draw millions of pilgrims each year. Fatima (Portugal, 1917), where Mary appeared to three shepherd children, ended with the 'Miracle of the Sun' witnessed by 70,000 people including journalists and atheists, in which the sun was seen to dance and change colors. Countless personal miracles, healings, and conversions are attributed to Marian intercession.
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”Mary's response to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation (Luke 1:38, KJV).
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”Opening of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-47, KJV).
“Do whatever he tells you.”Mary's words to the servants at the wedding at Cana (John 2:5).
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Mary of Nazareth is the mother of Jesus Christ, the most venerated saint in Christianity after Jesus himself. The Gospels record her as the young woman from Nazareth to whom the angel Gabriel announced she would bear the Son of God by the Holy Spirit. She is honored as Theotokos (God-bearer), the Blessed Virgin, and Mother of the Church. Catholic, Orthodox, and many Anglican Christians venerate her; Protestants honor her as the mother of our Lord without the Catholic Marian dogmas.
Catholics do not worship Mary — worship (latria) is reserved for God alone. Catholics honor Mary (hyperdulia, the highest form of veneration) and ask her intercession (similar to asking a friend to pray for you). The reasoning: if asking a fellow Christian to pray is biblical (James 5:16), how much more the mother of Jesus, who is most attuned to his will? Mary's intercession at the wedding at Cana (John 2) is the model: she brings human needs to her son.
Marian apparitions are reported appearances of the Virgin Mary throughout history. The most consequential approved by the Catholic Church: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531 — led to 9 million conversions); Our Lady of Lourdes (France, 1858 — 70+ medically verified healings); Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal, 1917 — Miracle of the Sun witnessed by 70,000 people). Each apparition is associated with extraordinary signs and continues to draw millions of pilgrims annually.
The Hail Mary combines two biblical greetings to Mary — the angel Gabriel's at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28: 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee') and Elizabeth's at the Visitation (Luke 1:42: 'Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb') — with a petition asking her intercession. The complete prayer, with its closing petition, was standardized by the 14th-15th centuries. It is prayed individually, as part of the Rosary (which uses 53 Hail Marys), and in countless devotions.