At Mass, during the Liturgy of the Word, we hear a reading from one of the four Gospels. The Gospels contain stories of the life and mission of Jesus. In Genesis 3:15, after the story about creation and original sin, we also hear about Jesus. This revelation is considered so important that it is called the first Gospel or Protoevangelium.

In the Protoevangelium, the woman and her offspring are prophetic of Mary and Jesus. Jesus is the new Adam. While Adam’s disobedience to God, the Father, brought evil into the world, Jesus’s obedience, brought salvation. Mary is the new Eve. Mary’s “yes” to the will of God, loosed the knot of Eve’s disobedience. Man lost God’s favor through Adam and Eve’s act of selfishness. The beginning of the restoration of our relationship with God came through Mary’s and Jesus’s obedience and unselfishness.
(CCC 411)

Because of her important role in salvation history, Catholics venerate or respect Mary. Because we have rosaries and pictures of her, some might get confused and think that we worship her. We do not. In everything, Mary’s life and our devotion to her only leads us closer to Jesus.
(CCC 971)

We ask for her intercession, knowing that she will take our prayers to Jesus. Mary may ask on our behalf, but it is always Jesus that answers our prayers. As parents, we want the best for our children. As our spiritual mother, Mary longs for what is best for us, to be in a relationship with her Son.Mary plays an important role in our salvation. Jesus came to us through Mary and we can get closer to Jesus through Mary.

 

Can you identify ways Mary has lead you closer to Jesus?

How does your family honor Mary? Statues or pictures of her at home? Family recitation of the Rosary? Asking for her intercession?

Using Mary as an example, how do the members of your family lead each other to Jesus?