100 Answers For Defending Mary This Feast Of The Assumption

Defending Mary Cover, Sassoferrato's "The Virgin in Prayer" (Screen grab of Defending Mary by Patrick Neve) — Defending Mary Cover, Sassoferrato’s “The Virgin in Prayer” (Screen grab of Defending Mary by Patrick Neve)

Happy Feast of the Assumption!

You probably know about Mary and her Glorious Assumption, but could you explain it? What if one of your non-practicing or Protestant friends or family members asked you to?

To celebrate this feast day, try knowing Mary more by diving deeper into her roles and purpose in the Christian faith.

Defending Mary

One way to learn more about Mary is to read this book, Defending Mary by Patrick Neve a.k.a Catholic Pat.

Patrick has a Masters in Systematic Theology from Franciscan University and is co-host of the Bropostles podcast where he and Ethan answer listener questions.

In the book, Patrick lays out 100 objections that people might have about Mary. Even if you don’t know anyone who is questioning Our Lady, this simple format makes it easy to find topics and quickly learn what the Church has to say about it.

Defending Mary is your ultimate resource for all of your Marian questions. (and as of writing this, it is on sale for $1 or what ever price you want!) You can go grab it HERE or you can keep reading this.

Defending Mary on the Assumption of Mary

Patrick laid out Defending Mary in such a way that you can quickly navigate through to find a teaching or question about Mary and answer it. For example, in the section titled “The Assumption of Mary” he addresses the following objections:

“The Assumption is not found in the Bible”
“Mary’s Assumption puts her on the same level as Jesus”
“The Assumption was invented”
“The Assumption undermines the resurrection”
“The Assumption is based on legends, not apostolic teaching”

For each of these objects, there is a detailed objection, a paragraph or so response, then a list of useful references from scripture and elsewhere that can help you defend that position.

Need to know how Mary fulfills the Old Testament, her role in Christian life, or otherwise? Here are 100 answers.

How about the famous question that many Catholics get, “Why do Catholics worship Mary?”. To answer plainly, we don’t. But can you explain it? Have you heard of hyperdulia before? I hadn’t.

Other Roles of Mary

In addition to the Assumption, you may want to know more about Mary as the “new Eve”, our “Co-redemptrix”, or our “Mediatrix”.

Next week will be the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. Do you want to learn why we call her our “Queen”?

All of these titles and roles of Mary in our lives are important. We should know why.

My Review of Defending Mary

After reading Defending Mary I sent Patrick and Ethan of the Bropostles podcast my review:

“This clear and concise resource is a must have in your arsenal and belongs on your shelf beside True Devotion and Imitation of Christ. Defending Mary is a gift to those of us who wish to know her more so as to know her Son, Jesus.” – Andrew

Although it is currently only in PDF form so it may not fit on your shelf, this is still a great resource to have on your phone or laptop to reference whenever you want to learn more about our Mother. One benefit of the pdf is that you can have it instantly.

With that, I hope you have a great Feast of the Assumption, and if you don’t get the book, you can at least pray a Litany of Mary below.

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, Pray for Us!

In my last post, I included the Litany of the Holy Ghost because St. Louis de Montfort said it is fitting to pray. So this week I’d like to tag on the Litany of Mary because it lists even more roles and titles of Mary that you can reflect on as you ask for her intercession on her feast day!

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord, have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel,pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Preparation for Consecration, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Christ Our Lord.

R. Amen

(sourced from St. Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration)