1. Mary

3. Mary's First Lesson in Discipleship (Luke 1:26-38) Luke 1:26-38 [26] In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, [27] to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." [29] Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. [31] You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" [35] The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. [37] For nothing is impossible with God." [38] "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left

4. The Discipleship of Mary In Chapter 8 of his Gospel, Luke outlines Jesus’ description of the perfect disciple. The perfect disciple is the one who has a noble and generous heart, who hears the Word and takes it to heart, and yields a harvest through perseverance.

5. Luke also applies this description of the perfect disciple to Mary. In detail, he describes Mary as: one who hears the word of God and accepts it wholeheartedly (1: 38): one who believes that what she has heard will be fulfilled (1: 42,45): one who cherishes what she has been told and ponders it (2: 19-51): one who hears the word of God, keeps it, and puts it into practice (8: 19-21, 11 :28): one who is with the disciples in the community, praying continuously, receiving the Holy Spirit, and witnessing to the Resurrection (Acts 1: 14).

6. In Christianity Mary is the mother of Jesus of Nazareth. She is the subject of much veneration in the Christian faith, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church, and is also highly regarded by Muslims.(www.ancientscripturegallery.com)

7. “Pieta”, sculpture by Michelangelo, show the Virgin Mary holding the body of her dead son. This theme is repeated numerous times throughout art history.

8. The Roman Catholic practice of saying the rosary began with St. Dominic’s apparition of Mary in 1214. Several other saints and popes have received messages from Jesus and Mary regarding the importance of the rosary. Saying the rosary is considered a devotion to Mary.

11. The Seven Sorrows are events in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary which are a popular devotion and are frequently depicted in art. It is a common devotion for Catholics to say daily a Hail Mary for each.Hail Mary The Prophecy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus. (Gospel of Luke 2:34)ProphecySimeonInfant JesusGospel of Luke The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family. (Gospel of Matthew 2:13)Flight into EgyptHoly FamilyGospel of Matthew The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days. (Luke 2:43)Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days The Meeting of Jesus and Mary along the Way of the Cross.Way of the Cross (Luke 23:26) The Crucifixion, where Mary stands at the foot of the cross. The Crucifixion (Gospel of John 19:25)Gospel of John The Descent from the Cross, where Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms. (Matthew 27:57) The Descent from the Cross The Burial of Jesus. (John 19:40)Burial

13. The Seven Joys of the Virgin are also a popular devotion to Mary, commemorating the joyous events of her life. The Annunciation The Nativity of Jesus The Adoration of the Magi The Resurrection of Christ The Ascension of Christ to Heaven The Pentecost or Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary The Pentecost The Coronation of the Virgin in Heaven The Coronation of the Virgin

14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh3OIQv2Av4

15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdbW-H-7Cs http://abcnews.go.com/International/reported-visions-virgin-mary-draw-hordes- bosnian-village/story?id=13979679 http://abcnews.go.com/International/reported-visions-virgin-mary-draw-hordes- bosnian-village/story?id=13979679 News Report about Apparitions of Mary