Holy Queen, Lesson 1.5

Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God

Lesson One: A Biblical Introduction to Mary

Lesson Objectives

  1. To understand the basic outlines of the New Testament’s witness to Mary.
  2. To appreciate how the Old Testament forms the essential background for what the New Testament teaches about Mary.
  3. To understand “typology” and its importance for reading the New Testament texts concerning Mary.

V. Study Questions

1. Where in the New Testament is Mary depicted at her Son’s conception? His birth? At the start of His ministry? After His Resurrection?

2. How does Matthew position Mary at the center of Israel’s history? At the center of human history?

3. How does Luke portray Mary as "Daughter Zion"? What Old Testament mother does Mary recall in declaring herself the "Handmaid of the Lord"?

4. What biblical covenant does Luke’s Annunciation account refer to?

5. What is typology? What are the origins of typological reading of the Bible?

For prayer and reflection:

In your own prayer and devotion, do you hold Mary to be most blessed among women? Are you honoring the New Testament prophecy that all ages shall call Mary blessed (see Luke 1:42,46; 11:27-28)?

Begin Lesson 2

Lesson Outline

  1. From Scripture to Creed
    1. Mary of the New Testament
    2. Mary of Doctrine and Devotion
  2. Reading Mary in Matthew
    1. Of Her Was Born. . .
    2. B. . . .Through the Holy Spirit
  3. Reading Mary in Luke
    1. The Lord Is With You
    2. Handmaid of the Lord
  4. Reading Like Jesus
    1. Literal, Historical, Divine
    2. Typology and Mary
  5. Study Questions

Other Lessons

  • Lesson Two: Wedding at Cana, Garden in Eden
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To appreciate the Old Testament symbolism that forms the deep background to the Gospel account of the wedding feast at Cana.
    2. To understand how Mary is depicted as a “New Eve” in this account.
    3. To appreciate the importance of the Old Testament marriage symbolism for John’s recounting of the “sign” at Cana.

    Begin Lesson Two

  • Lesson Three: The Ark of the New Covenant
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To see how Mary’s visit to Elizabeth parallels David’s bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
    2. To understand how the book of Revelation uses the startling image of the rediscovered Ark of the Covenant to introduce a vision of the Mother of Christ.
    3. To understand why the New Testament writers see Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant.

    Begin Lesson Three

  • Lesson Four: Mother Crowned in Glory
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To see the importance of the Queen Mother in the Davidic kingdom of the Old Testament.
    2. To understand the duties and privileges that came with the position of Queen Mother.
    3. To see how Mary fills the position of Queen Mother in the kingdom of Christ.

    Begin Lesson Four

  • Lesson Five: The All-Holy Mother of God
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the relationship between Catholic teaching about Mary and the Scriptural portrayal of Mary.
    2. To understand the biblical foundations of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
    3. To appreciate how Catholic belief in the Immaculate Conception flows from the New Testament portrait of Mary as the “New Eve”

    Begin Lesson Five

  • Lesson Six: The Queen Assumed into Heaven
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the biblical foundations of the Dogma of the Assumption.
    2. To understand the deep Old Testament symbolism and imagery in Revelation 12, and its relation to Catholic beliefs about Mary.
    3. To appreciate how the biblical portrait of Mary is reflected and interpreted in the Church’s liturgy.

    Begin Lesson Six