Maria
Maria, mãe de Jesus, é honrada nas Escrituras como a mulher escolhida por Deus para trazer ao mundo o Salvador. Sua fé, humildade e obediência são exemplo para todos os cristãos.
A escolhida de Deus
O anjo Gabriel anunciou a Maria que ela seria mãe do Filho do Altíssimo. Ela respondeu com fé: 'Faça-se em mim segundo a tua palavra.'
But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of God to a city of Galilee, of which the name was Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, thou favoured one! the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women.
And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God; and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.
O Magnificat
Maria cantou: 'Minha alma engrandece ao Senhor!' Seu cântico exalta a misericórdia, o poder e a fidelidade de Deus.
And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he has looked upon the low estate of his bondmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done to me great things, and holy is his name; and his mercy is to generations and generations to them that fear him. He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty ones in the thought of their heart. He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty. He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy, (as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David’s city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him as his wife, she being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth to her child were fulfilled, and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
But Mary kept all these things in her mind, pondering them in her heart.
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this child is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against; (and even a sword shall go through thine own soul;) so that the thoughts may be revealed from many hearts.
And when they saw him they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Child, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee distressed. And he said to them, Why is it that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be occupied in my Father’s business? And they understood not the thing that he said to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Mãe fiel até o fim
Maria acompanhou Jesus desde o nascimento até a cruz. Ela estava entre os discípulos no Pentecostes, fiel em oração.
And wine being deficient, the mother of Jesus says to him, They have no wine. Jesus says to her, What have I to do with thee, woman? mine hour has not yet come. His mother says to the servants, Whatever he may say to you, do.
And by the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Jesus therefore, seeing his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, says to his mother, Woman, behold thy son. Then he says unto the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
And his brethren and his mother come, and standing without sent to him calling him. And a crowd sat around him. And they said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren seek thee without. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother or my brethren? And looking around in a circuit at those that were sitting around him, he says, Behold my mother and my brethren: for whosoever shall do the will of God, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Is not this the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then has this man all these things?
These gave themselves all with one accord to continual prayer, with several women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.