Holy Queen, Lesson 3.5

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

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.

V. Study Questions

1. What important objects did the Ark of the Covenant contain?

2. Who brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem?

3. According to 2 Maccabees, on what mountain did Jeremiah hide the Ark?

4. According to Jeremiah, when would the Ark of the Covenant be seen again?

5. Of what famous priest was Elizabeth a descendant?

6. What sights and sounds accompanied the reappearance of the Ark of the Covenant in John’s vision?

7. What Old Testament event was accompanied by similar signs?

8. Name at least three parallels between the Ark of the Covenant and Mary, the Mother of Christ.

For prayer and reflection:

Wherever the ancient Israelites went, they followed the Ark of the Covenant. If Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, how should we as Christians be following her?

Begin Lesson 4

Lesson Outline

  1. The Annunciation
    1. How can this be?
    2. The power of the Most High will overshadow you
  2. A History of the Ark
    1. God’s Presence among His People
    2. David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
    3. Lost Forever?
  3. The Visitation
    1. Elizabeth and Mary
    2. David’s Journey and Mary’s Visit
  4. The Ark in Heaven
    1. The Ark Reappears in Heaven
    2. The Woman Clothed With the Sun
    3. What Makes Mary the Ark of the New Covenant?
  5. Study Questions

Other Lessons

  • 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.

    Begin Lesson One

  • 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 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