There are four Dogmatic titles to the Blessed Virgin Mary. What this means is that these Dogmas or teachings are to be believed by all Catholics in order to completely understand and know the full truth of the life of Mary. These teachings are based on Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition. Because many of the teachings were developed after the death of the apostles, many Protestants "protest" Marian Doctrine.As Catholics we believe that after the life of the Apostles we recieved no new revelations, but this doesnt mean that more understanding and developemnt didnt continue afterwards. Very important doctrine , such as that of the Trinity was not fully developed until later on in Church history, this doesnt mean we dont believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity. The importance of Christ's teachings took first place in developement during the life of the Apostles.

Just because this teaching was not developed until later on in history, doesnt mean it wasnt believed at the time. That is why it is important to read much of the writings of the early Church Fathers.Many of these were men were taught by the apostles themselves and by reading their thoughts on Mary, we realize that great devotion was held in their hearts even at that time.

First, before you begin to read scripture to try and understand Mary's role in Salvation History, there are a couple very important things to keep in mind...

-The Aramaic language which Jesus spoke and much of the bible was written is a very unique language. The majority of its words can stand for many different things, which can be confusing if that fact is not known. I wil discuss examples of this later on.

-An understanding Of Jewish tradition also is useful when reading about things that Jesus would and would not have done during His contact with others.

-And last, who the actual audience is that the different Gospel writers are directing their attention to. The four Men who wrote these Gospels, did so at different times to fit te needs of there surrounding audience:

-The First being Mark(written about A.D. 65-70). His audience being the Gentiles(non-Jewish) Christians faced with persecution, he urged his readers to be steadfast as Jesus had been. He emphasized how Christ was misunderstood and rejected. He selected and arranged his writings to accentuate Christ's role as Suffering Savior. Mary was also used in this Gospel, which is where many people get confused in this language that is used....

-Matthew (composed about A.D. 80-85) wrote for Christians with Jewish backgrounds. He wanted to show that Jesus was the Messiah for whom the faithful Jews had long hoped for. And he does this by quoting many Old Testament prophecies as adding subtle allusions to old testament pesonalities. To make a further point Matthew starts out with a geneology of Jesus, which is a line of His ancestors "the Kings of Isreal" all the way down to Jesus himself. Because Jews traced descent through the father, the geneology leads to Joseph, Matt 1:16-"the husband of Mary, whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah." By saying that Jesus was born of Mary and not of Joseph, he hints of the Virginal coneption. And since this Gospel was written 10 years afer that of Mark we see a more positive picture of Mary as Mother of the Messiah, and shows that the early Church was moving toward a greater appreciation of Mary's role in God's plan for our salvation.

The Gospel of Luke(composed about A.D. 80-90) and the Acts of th Apostles were both written for non-Jewish Christians. Because by the time Luke wrote, Jeruselam had been destroyed by the Romans, and it was clear that many of the Jews had not accepted Christ. So many non-Jewish Christians were asking why? Jesus was Jewish? So, in response Luke took a positive position and showed that many faithful Jews ahd accepted Christ, and that Christianity was the true religion for them as well as the whole world. This Gospel is where we find more about Mary than any other. Luke is hsowing those in question, the real importance, that Jesus came to save the world, and in doing so, highlights the importance it is, that we msut do God's will in ordr to earn that salvation.

So to show this, Luke begins his gospel showing that Mary heard the word of God and kept it. She recieved the Holy Spirit, and Christ was able to come into the world. He begins the Acts showing Mary's presence among the Apostles and those who believed. With them she recieved the Holy Spirit, and the Church is born...This shows her unique relationship to Jesus as his physical mother, and that she has a special place in Christ's body, the Church.

John's Gospel(A.D. 90-95), came from many years of reflection on the significance of Jesus' words and deeds, and was actually writen fora particular community perhaps in Asia Minor- becasue these people had no tlived around Jesus, John had to more or less talk about everything, he proclaimed Christ Son of God, who existed from all eternity and who now ministers to His Church through word and sacraments.

John doesnt talk about Jesus' birth, but does talk aboutthe existance of the Word (2nd Person of the Trinity) from all eternity. John affirms the Word was God, and that Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, Mary's role in the incarnation is not mentioned, but John attests in the prologue that Mary's child Jesus Christ, is God! Nothing more momentous can be said of a woman! Mary is alos brough tout as one who believes in Jesus ans interceeds for us as held in the Wedding Feast at Cana.

Immaculate Conception

Perpetual Virgin

Mother of God

Assumed into Heaven