In his document, Marialis Cultus (For the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary), Blessed Pope Paul VI says this about devotion to Mary in the Biblical context,
“Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary cannot be exempt from this general orientation of Christian piety; indeed it should draw inspiration in a special way from this orientation in order to gain new vigor and sure help. In its wonderful presentation of God’s plan for man’s salvation, the Bible is replete with the mystery of the Savior, and from Genesis to the Book of Revelation, also contains clear references to Mary, who was the Mother and associate of the Savior.”
The letter, The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation, written by the Congregation for Catholic Education in 1988, when speaking about the exegetical research focused on Mary says,
“Biblical exegesis has opened new frontiers for Mariology, ever dedicating more attention to the inter-testamental literature. Some texts of the Old Testament, and especially the New Testament parts of Luke and Matthew on the infancy of Jesus, and the Johannine periscopes, have been the object of continuous and deep study, the results of which have reinforced the biblical basis of Mariology and considerably enriched its themes.”
Furthermore, Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini (Word of God), states the following about Mariology and the Word of God,
“The Synod Fathers declared that the basic aim of the Twelfth Assembly was “to renew the Church’s faith in the word of God”. To do so, we need to look to the one in whom the interplay between the word of God and faith was brought to perfection, that is, to the Virgin Mary…I would encourage scholars as well to study the relationship between Mariology and the theology of the word. This could prove most beneficial both for the spiritual life and for theological and biblical studies. Indeed, what the understanding of the faith has enabled us to know about Mary stands at the heart of Christian truth.”
Now that you have read through these three quotes focusing on the importance the Blessed Virgin Mary plays in the Sacred Scriptures, let us turn our attention to eight previous “Mondays with Mary” that have focused particularly on this very subject. It’s my hope that you can share this post as well as the previous posts on your social media sites as well as with your family and friends.
1. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the Old Testament , Part 1
2. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the Old Testament, Part 2
3. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the Old Testament, Part 3
4. “Mondays with Mary” – The Esheth Yahil (Woman of Valor)
5. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the New Testament, Part 1
6. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the New Testament, Part 2
7. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary, the New Ark of the Covenant
8. “Mondays with Mary”- Mary the Word of God
Categories: Mariology, Scriptures
TOM PERNA 
Tom, have you written anything on the Mariology of places like Medjugorje or Fatima or Garabandal. How are apparition cults to be understood in light of the Church’s emphasis on grounding the BVM in Scripture? Thanks.
“Mondays with Mary” #3 and #75 speak of Our Lady of Fatima. The others I have not written on yet. The apparition sites are treated as private revelations that the Church has approved, well at least the ones she has approved. Mary in the Scriptures is what has been revealed to us through public revelation.
Interesting. I’d not heard the distinction between public and private revelation. Is that in the catechism? Would non canonical gospels fall under public or private? Thank you so much.
The Catechism does speak of public and private revelation – see CCC 51-100. Since the non-canonical gospels or writings are not considered inspired by the Church since they were written centuries after the time of Christ, they are not revelation.
Thank you. I will look at those sections to see what they say about the apparitions. Much obliged.