Catholic Sunday School
ClassesGrade 5Lesson 8

Mary, Mother of the Church

Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, always leads us to Jesus.

Pray 10 minutes CCC 490–507, 963–972, 2673–2679, 2708

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Mary is the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of the Church. Her “yes” to God, her fiat, makes her the model of faith for every Christian.

The Church teaches four great truths about Mary:

  • Mother of God: because her Son, Jesus, is truly God.
  • Ever-Virgin: Mary remained a virgin all her life.
  • The Immaculate Conception: from the first moment of her existence, Mary was preserved from original sin (defined in 1854).
  • The Assumption: at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory (defined in 1950).

We honor Mary, but we worship God alone. Mary always points to her Son. At Cana she told the servants: “Do whatever he tells you.”

The Rosary has been called a summary of the whole Gospel. With Mary, we meditate on the mysteries of Jesus' life: the Joyful, Luminous (added by Saint John Paul II in 2002), Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.

How to pray the Rosary: begin with the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles' Creed, then one Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be. For each decade, announce the mystery and pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys and a Glory Be. Close with the Hail, Holy Queen.

Catechism: CCC 490–507, 963–972, 2673–2679, 2708Scripture: Luke 1:26–56 · John 2:5 · John 19:25–27

Words to know

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Keep this in your heart
Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, leads us to Jesus: “Do whatever he tells you.”

Say it out loud three times. Tap a circle each time!

Quiz

  1. What is the Immaculate Conception?
    Answer: Mary was conceived without original sin
  2. What is the Assumption?
    Answer: Mary was taken body and soul into heaven
  3. Which set of mysteries did Saint John Paul II add to the Rosary?
    Answer: The Luminous Mysteries
  4. Do Catholics worship Mary?
    Answer: No, we honor her; worship belongs to God alone

Pray & do

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Activity

Make a rosary from beads or knotted string. Pray one decade while thinking about a Joyful Mystery: the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation or Finding in the Temple.

Family corner

Pray one decade of the Rosary together each evening this week, taking turns to announce the mystery.

Lesson complete!

Today's big idea: Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, always leads us to Jesus.

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