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(ccc means the Cathechism of the Catholic Church.

If you link to the Catechism's concordance and need help to use it click here.)

Annunciation and Visitation

 

The Annunciation . . ..Luke 1:26-38 (Links to the NIV are provided as a comparason to the more traditional catholic text.)

CCC Annunciation, general info on Mary in the encyclopedia and in the catechism.

 

Lk 1:26-38 "And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. Behold you shall conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son: and you shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. And behold your cousin Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her." Rheims NT, NAB.

 

Joseph's story... Matt. 1:18-21

ccc 437.

 

Matt. 1:18-21 "Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and you shall call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins." Rheims NT, NAB.

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth... . Luke 1:39-45

Lk 1:39-45 "And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed are you that has believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to you by the Lord." Rheims NT, NAB.

Magnificat...Lk 1:46-55, (re ccc Prayer Magnificat) (Botticelli's Madonna of the Magnificat.)

Lk 1:46-55 "And Mary said: My soul does magnify the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Because he has regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty has done great things to me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. He has showed might in his arm: he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their seat and has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he has sent empty away. He has received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever." Rheims NT, NAB.

She returns home...Luke 1:56 "And Mary abode with her about three months. And she returned to her own house." Rheims, NAB.

Paul's Testimony...Gal. 4:4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..." Rheims NT, NAB.

[The ccc on the prayer Hail Mary and its scriptural foundation. ccc 2676-78.]

Birth in Bethlehem...Luke 2:1-7 (Fra angelico's Nativity.) (Pieter Bruegel The Elder, Census at Bethlehem.)

Lk 2:1-7 "And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David. To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn." Rheims NT, NAB.

Shepherds...Luke 2:8-18 (Mantegna's Adoration of the Shepherds.)

Lk 2:8-18 "And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For, this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord has showed to us. And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds." Rheims NT, NAB.

ccc: angels. Definition of shepherd. ccc: Shepherds as first witnesses, 525.

Mary's Meditation, especially ccc 2708..Luke 2:19 "But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart." Rheims.

Presentation/circumcision...Lk 2:21-24 (Giotto Presentation in the Temple.)

CCC Jesus' Circumcision, Presentation

 

Lk 2:21-24 "And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons..." Rheims NT, NAB.

 

Simeon...Lk 2:25-35

Prayer Nunc Dimittis...Lk 2:29-32

A Sword shall pierce...Lk 2:33-35

 

Lk 2:25-35 "And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, He also took him into his arms and blessed God and said 'Now you can dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word in peace: Because my eyes have seen your salvation, Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.' And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: 'Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And your own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.'" Rheims NT, NAB.

 

After obeying the Law, return to Nazareth...Lk 2:39 "And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth." Rheims NT, NAB.

(To see a larger view of Rembrandt's Holy Family click on the image.) ->

 

Matthew's report of events after the birth.

 

Wise men...Matt. 2:1-12 (Correggio's Adoration of the Magi.) (Albrecht Durer's Magi.) (Bosch, Epiphany) (Tiepolo)

CCC 528, Magi and Epiphany.

 

Matt 2:1-12 "When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, Saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him. And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: And you Bethlehem the land of Juda are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore him. Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country." Rheims NT, NAB.

 

Columbia Encyclopedia on the Wise Men. You can also see the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia's entry on Magi, but realize the story is now usually considered to be myth, i.e. it contains religious truth, but not history. [The same is asserted for the flight into Egypt and much of the Infancy Narritives. See Father Ray Brown's Birth of the Messiah.]

 

The Flight and the Return from Egypt... Matt. 2:13-23. (Giotto's Flight into Egypt.) (Correggio's Rest on Flight to Egypt.)

CCC Flight, Death of the innocents (Fra Angelico: Massacre of the Innocents.) (Bruegel)

 

Matt. 2:13-23 "And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell you. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry: and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archclaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene." Rheims NT, NAB.

 

After Jesus' Childhood

 

Wedding Feast at Cana...John 2:1-11 (Hieronymus Bosch: Marriage Feast at Cana.)

ccc Cana.

 

John 2:1-11 "And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus said to him: They have no wine. And Jesus said to her: Woman, what is that to me and to you? My hour is not yet come. His mother said to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do it. Now there were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus said to them: Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus said to them: Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward called the bridegroom, And said to him: Every man at first sets forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But you have kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." Rheims NT, NAB.

 

Family visit...Mark 3:31-35

(The Lord's family are those who do God's will.)

Jesus "brothers" ccc 500.

See the New American Bible footnote #3.

"Brethern" in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

St. Jerome on Mary's perpetual virginity.

ccc Mary is our mother, she is a sign showing us the Way.

 

Mark 3:31-35 "And his mother and his brethren came; and standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him; and they said to him: Behold your mother and your brethren without looking for you. And answering them, he said: Who is my mother and my brethren? And looking round about on them who sat about him, he said: Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother." Rheims NT, NAB.

The People at Nazareth...Matt. 13:54-57; Mark 6:3

Mark 6:3 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him." Rheims, NAB, footnote 3.

Matt 13:54-57 "And coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so that they wondered and said: How came this man by this wisdom and miracles? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude: And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore has he all these things? And they were scandalized in his regard. But Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house." Rheims, NAB, footnote 4.

 

At Crucifixion...John 19:25-27 (Fra Angelico's Crucified Christ with Saint John the Evangelist, the Virgin, and Saints Dominic and Jerome.)

cf. Lam. 1:12 (Cranach: Lamentation.)

 

John 19:25-27 "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he said to his mother: Woman, behold your son. After that, he said to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own." Rheims, NAB, ccc 964

 

Penticost...Acts 1:12-14

Mary is at the beginning and end of the Holy Spirit's mission to manifest the Son., see ccc 726. (Image is "Penticost" by Cremona.)

 

Acts 1:12-14 "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." Rheims, NAB, ccc 965

 

Sign of Mary in Heaven...Rev. 12:1

(Tiepolo's Immaculate Conception) (Velazquez, The Immaculate Conception.) For the catechism's teaching on the Immaculate Conception see ccc 491-494, and 2853

For Mary taken to heaven see ccc 966. (Raphael's Coronation of the Virgin.)

Also, Mary mother of the church.

 

Rev. 12:1 "And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." NAB. [In the Rheims, the book of Revelation is called the Apocalypse.] Cf. Song of Solomon 6:10. Also cf. Gen. 3:13-15.

 

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The text quoted here is from the Rheims New Testament, with some editing to remove archaic words. A link to the original is provided if you want to examine the unedited material. The initial link is to the NIV at Bible Gateway. Catholics may also wish to compare these translations with the modern New American Bible (NAB).

 

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