First Century
Mary, First Century
January 1
Mary is the Mother of Jesus. She is the greatest of all Saints. One day an angel gave Mary a message. “You will have a son named Jesus.” Mary was confused. She asked, “How can this be done?” The angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you. Your son will be the Son of God.” The Holy Spirit was with Mary. The Spirit is with us, too, in the Sacraments.
Discuss: What Sacraments have you received?
Mary is the Mother of Jesus. She is the greatest of all Saints. But even Mary had a hard time understanding things she couldn’t see. One day an angel gave Mary a message. “You will have a son named Jesus.” Mary was confused. She asked, “How can this be done?” The angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you. Your son will be the Son of God.” The Holy Spirit was with Mary. The Spirit is with us, too, in the Sacraments.
One of Mary’s titles is the Theotokos, which means “Bearer of God.” She was with the Apostles when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost. Mary is considered the greatest of all Saints and also the first disciple. Because she said “yes” to God and became the Mother of his Son, Jesus, all people have been saved from the power of sin and everlasting death.
Mary is our great role model in the Church. She reminds us to serve all and say “yes” to God’s plan for our lives.
Activity
Holy Spirit Symbol
Visual/Spatial
Remind the child that the Holy Spirit is symbolized as a dove. The Holy Spirit came to Mary, and comes to us through the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit then remains with us always.