pious Jewish woman—and that is all? The New Testament records her visit with Elizabeth, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, her part in the miraculous changing of water into wine at Cana, her presence at the foot of the cross on which Christ died, and with the Apostles in the upper room on Pentecost. But, it may be asked, what does all that have to do with our salvation? Did not Saint Paul speak of Jesus Christ as the one Mediator between man and God? Did not Peter claim that there is only one name in which we are saved — Jesus Christ? Did not Christ himself rebuke Mary on several occasions for meddling in his work when he was about his Father’s business? Should we not therefore relegate Mary to the background, lest in honoring her, we defraud Christ of his rightful honor? These questions will possibly reflect the attitude of some of our readers and we mention them here to indicate that we are aware of their point of view. According to Catholics, this point of view is wrong. Such an attitude toward Mary certainly has not been the historical attitude of Christians in the Catholic Church from the earliest times down to the present day. It is not based on the indications which the Scripture gives us concerning what our attitude toward Mary should be, as this has been explained by the living voice of the Church since the days of the Apostles.
The Church Interprets the Bible Catholics get their information concerning Mary — not from the Church teaching us as though the Bible did not exist, but from the Church teaching the full significance of what the Bible says about Mary. By her consent to become the mother of God’s Son, Mary - 23 -