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No other personality from the New or the Old Testament has been venerated like Saint Mary. She has been raised in status above the Cherubim and the Seraphim, for she has said through the Holy Spirit, "...behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name" (Luke 1:48-49).

• Saint Mary the Virgin is the Mother of God, the Theotokos (Luke 1:43). Theotokos is a Greek word composed of two syllables: `Theo' meaning `God', and `tokos' meaning `bearer'; that is, `she who bore God in her womb'. This theological term has its origins in the Bible, in the following places: The archangel Gabriel announced to Saint Mary saying, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). Elizabeth said to Saint Mary, "But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43). Isaiah prophesied concerning St. Mary and said "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel." (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23).
• Only the Gospel of Luke records the annunciation to Saint Mary by archangel Gabriel, and only the Gospel of Luke records Saint Mary's visit to St. Elizabeth's house (Luke 1:1-80).
• The Gospel of Luke also records the birth of Jesus, His circumcision, the presentation of Jesus in the temple, and when Jesus was 12 years old in the temple (Luke 2:1-52).
• The Gospel of Matthew records the appearance of archangel Gabriel to Joseph, as well as the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-25). We read, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying `Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins'" (Matthew 1:18-21).
• The Gospel of Matthew is the only Gospel that records the flight into Egypt, and the wise men and Herod (Matthew 2:1-23).
• The Gospels of Mark and John do not record the annunciation to Saint Mary or Joseph, nor do they record the birth of Jesus.
• She was the seed of David (Romans 3:1).
• She was the betrothed of St. Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25).
• She was the kinswoman of St. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:36).
• She attended to ceremonial purification (Luke 2:22-38).
• She fled into Egypt with St. Joseph and the Lord Jesus (Matthew 2:13-15).  She lived in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23).  She took twelve-year old Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-50).
• She was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11), where the Lord Jesus performed His first miracle since starting His ministry.
• She was concerned for Jesus' safety (Matthew 12:46, Mark 3:21-31, Luke 8:19-21). 
• She was at the cross with her sister (Mary) where she was entrusted by Our Lord Jesus Christ to the care of St. John the Evangelist (John 19:25-27).
• She was in the Upper Room praying with the disciples where the Holy Spirit came down upon them (Acts 1:14).

We get a glimpse of the virtues of Saint Mary in Luke 2:18-19, where we read, "And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:18-19). We again read of Saint Mary, "but His mother kept all these things in her heart" (Luke 2:51).

May the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, the Holy Theotokos Saint Mary, be with us. Amen.