The Promise of a New Covenant in Jesus Christ

     Beginning with His promise to Eve in Genesis 3:15, God consistently held out to His people of the Old Testament the promise of a coming Redeemer, a Messiah, who would deliver them from the power of sin, the curse of sin (death), and reconcile them with the Father. This redeemer would in Himself fulfill all of the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament and transform mankind, giving them “new hearts” to love God and fulfill His commandments in righteousness.

The Blessed Virgin Mary

“Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom you did merit to bear…Has risen, as he said, alleluia.” (Regina Caeli, c. 12th century)

“And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars…” (Rev. 12:1)

"You alone and your Mother are more beautiful than any others, for there is no blemish in you nor any stains upon your Mother. Who of my children can compare in beauty to these?" (St. Ephraim the Syrian, Nisibene Hymns 27:8, 361 AD)

     Christians of the Catholic faith are unique among other Christian bodies for their singular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Though the Greek Orthodox and the Russian Orthodox also venerate her, only the Catholic Church has taught definitively (declared as dogma) as her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption and her Perpetual Virginity.