Answer: Nazareth
Luke 1:26-28 in the Names of God translation:
"Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary. When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, 'You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.'"
While the Bible doesn't include many details about Mary's personal life, we can probably assume that, at this point, she was a young woman (what the ancients considered a young woman would be more like a teenager in modern terms) who lived with her parents and maybe siblings. When the Gospels introduce Mary, no family members beside Elizabeth are discussed, but John 19:25 suggests that she had a sister.
Mary traveled a lot, whether she wanted to or not. In Luke 1:39, she went to the country of Judah to visit her relative, Elizabeth. Then she had to go to Bethlehem because Joseph's ancestors were from Bethlehem. She, Joseph, and the child Jesus lived in Egypt for a while to escape King Herod. Finally, they moved back and Mary raised Jesus in her hometown of Nazareth (see Matthew 2:23).
From Quiz: Mary Nodded
Answer: March 25
The feast of Our Lady of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25. The Roman Catholic doctrines of the Incarnation and Annunciation were proclaimed by Pope Benedict XIV. The prayer, "The Hail Mary" contains both these events. "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus".
From Quiz: For It Was Mary
Answer: "Be it done unto me according to your word."
Mary's response was "Be it done unto me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). This reply was brought about by humility, her complete resignation to the will of God.
From Quiz: Mary, the Mother of God
Answer: Poland
Since 1362, The Shrine to Mary, Our Lady of Czestochowa is located on the mountain top, Jasna Gora, (meaning Bright Mountain) in Czestochowa,Poland. The painting (or icon), is in the monastery and care of the Pauline Fathers. In the shrine there is a painting of Mary, known as "The Black Madonna", so named because of the discoloration that had occurred to the icon over the centuries. This painting also plays an important part in Polish history and many miracles through the intercession of Mary are credited to her. Many pilgrimages are made to Jasna Gora. One of the largest treks was on September 8, 1682, when one hundred and forty thousand persons attended a ceremony to commemorate the three hundredth anniversary of the painting of "The Black Madonna" arriving in Czestochowa. The tradition of pilgrimages has continued. In August of 1957, with a copy of the icon of Mary, a pilgrimage began to carry it to all the churches throughout Poland. During the years 1966 to 1972 the painting of "The Black Madonna" itself was taken under Communist control. With ingenuity, the procession continued with the empty wooden frame of "The Black Madonna" carried as their banner.
From Quiz: For It Was Mary
Answer: St. Elizabeth
This portion of the prayer is based on the words of St. Elizabeth when Mary visited her. This verse is located at Luke 1:42-43.
"[Elizabeth] cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
From Quiz: Mary, the Mother of God
Answer: Constantine
The painting of Mary, known as "Our Lady of Vladimir", shows Mary holding the Child Jesus, cradled in her arms with His cheek nestling hers, and His arms caressing her. Revered as an icon, the painting was given to Vladimir, Russia, by the Patriarch of Constantinople in the twelfth century. This icon is also known as "Our Lady of Tenderness". In 1395, from the Russian city of Vladimir, the painting was brought and placed in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Moscow, Russia. This painting was also carried to the battlefront by the Russians in World War I.
From Quiz: For It Was Mary
Answer: Bernadette Soubirous
In 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to a poor and uneducated girl, Bernadette Soubirous, in Lourdes, France. The dogma of the "Immaculate Conception" (which states Mary was born without original sin) had only been approved four years before this apparition. It is proclaimed Bernadette could not have known of the dogma's existence. The Virgin also told her to dig in the dirt of the grotto where she appeared. Bernadette dug in the dirt and water seeped up from the ground. She was instructed by the Virgin to drink the water and, to the villagers' scorn, she did. The water eventually became a small river from which many people drank. Healings were reported from those who drank or bathed in the water. Today, Lourdes is a famous shrine visited by over five million people every year.
From Quiz: Virgin Mary...Hey, Have You Seen Her?
Answer: On a city gate
Vilno, Lithuania, in the sixteenth century, had five fortification gates surrounding it, one of which had a chapel built on it, ordered by the Bishop of Vilno, Wojciech Tabor. The painting, known as "Our Lady of Ostabrama", which means Gate of Dawn, was placed in the chapel as protection from damages and in thanksgiving. Pope Pius X approved November 16 as the feast day of "Our Lady of Ostrabama", who is also known as "The Mother of Mercy".
From Quiz: For It Was Mary
Answer: 15
The first to see the Virgin was Margaret Beirne, a resident of the village of Cnoc Mhuire. Margaret was at the local church to lock it up for the evening. She was then joined by a member of her family, Mary Beirne. She noticed the church was covered in a bright light but didn't think much of it. Starting their walk home, Margaret looked at the church gable wall (now in the distance), saw what appeared to be figures standing and assumed they were new statues for the church. Looking closer, Margaret and her companion noticed the figures were moving. Soon 13 other members of the community joined them in viewing this apparition. Sighted along with the Virgin Mary were St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, a lamb, and a cross surrounded by angels.
From Quiz: Virgin Mary...Hey, Have You Seen Her?
Answer: No, they venerate her.
Adoration and veneration are similar but different terms. Both are used to describe levels of worship, but the difference is to whom the honor is given.
Catholics believe adoration is given to God, and God alone can be adored. This kind of giving honor is called latria.
Veneration is given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the saints, and beati. For Mary, this veneration is called hyperdulia while for the saints, it is called dulia.
From Quiz: Mary, the Mother of God
