Roman Catholics exalt Mary to the level of a functioning goddess. When I tell them this, they object. But the Catholic church teaches that she can do miraculous and incredible things (see the paragraph below). For example, when the Catholic church teaches you can pray to Mary (CCC 2679), it means she can hear millions of prayers simultaneously, spoken and thought, in different languages all over the world, and answer them. If those are not the attributes of a goddess, then I don’t know what they are. But what are the things Mary said in the Bible? Did she exalt yourself the way the Catholics do? No. But it is interesting to find out what she said, particularly the last thing – where she told people to do whatever Jesus said (John 2:5).

The Catholic church exalts Mary way too much!

Before I get to the list of things Mary said, here’s a paragraph that cites some of the exulted attributes attributed to her. For reference, the CCC is the catechism of the Catholic Church. You can find an online version of it at https://www.scborromeo2.org/catechism-of-the-catholic-church. This way, you can check references for yourselves by clicking on them in the following paragraph.

Mary is the all-holy one (CCC 2677); second to Eve (Mystici Corpois Christ, 110); is prayed to (CCC 2679); sits at the right hand of Christ (Pope Pius X, 1835-1914, Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum, 14); is Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix (CCC 969); the mother of the members of Christ (CCC 963); Queen over all things (CCC 966); Queen of the universe (Lumen Gentium #59); brings eternal life by her intercession (CCC 969); helped make atonement for sins (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ott, page 213); crushed the head of the serpent (Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus); delivers souls from death (CCC 966). When considering the Church, there is no better way than to look to Mary (CCC 972). Catholics entrust themselves to Mary’s prayer (CCC 2677). And, “no man goeth to Christ but by His Mother” (Encyclical of Pope Leo 13th on the Rosary, Octobri Mense, Pope Leo 13th, 1903-1914, #4).

What are the things Mary said in the Bible?

This is a list of the things that Mary said in the Bible. Afterward, I will offer some comments in the table below.

1. Luke 1:34, “Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?'”
2. Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
3. Luke 1:46–55, “And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50 AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53 HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; and sent away the rich empty-handed. 54 “”He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.'”
4. Luke 2:48, “When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.'”
5. John 2:3, “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.'”
6. John 2:5, “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.'”

What can we learn from what Mary said?

In Luke 1:34, we see Mary questioning how she could become pregnant if she’s a virgin. We know the story that the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, and she became pregnant. In fact, in Luke 1:38, she submitted to the will of God in this matter. Later, we have what is called the Magnificat, which is found in Luke 1:46-55. She calls God her Savior (verse 47) and refers to herself as God’s bondslave (verse 48). She praises God’s name (verse 49) and then quotes the Old Testament. Mary was dissatisfied with Jesus, who had disappeared for three days when they went to the temple (Luke 2:48). Didn’t she understand who Jesus was? She tells Jesus about the lack of wine at a wedding (John 2:3), upon which Jesus offers a slight rebuke to her (John 2:4). Finally, the last thing that Mary says is to do what Jesus said to do (John 2:5).

Note:  In my opinion, the last words of Mary recorded in the Bible (John 2:5) are significant. She told the servants to do what Jesus said to do. I think that’s good advice. So, do that. Jesus said to come to Him (Matt.11:28). Do what Mary said. Look to Jesus, not to her. Don’t pray to Mary. Neither she nor Jesus ever said to do that. Look to Jesus. That way, you can avoid idolatry.

Table of Mary’s Words – with comments

New Testament	Old Testament Possible Allusions and Direct Quotes	Comments
Luke 1:34, “Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?'”	Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”	Mary questioned how she could bear a child if she was a virgin.
Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”	Mary submitted to the will of God.
Luke 1:46 “And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,	1 Samuel 2:1, “Then Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.'” Psalm 34:2, “My soul will make its boast in the LORD. The humble will hear it and rejoice.”	Mary pointed to God’s greatness
Luke 1:47, “And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”	Psalm 35:9, “And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; It shall exult in His salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18, “Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”	Mary rejoiced in God.
Luke 1:48, “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.”	Psalm 138:6, “For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar.”	Mary said God exalts the lowly but is distant from the proud
Luke 1:49, “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.”	Isaiah 1:24, “Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares, “”Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries and avenge Myself on My foes.” Psalm 99:3, “Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.”	Mary said God was holy.
Luke 1:50, “AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.”	Psalm 103:17, “But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children,”	Mary quoted the Scriptures that said God is merciful.
Luke 1:51, “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.”	Psalm 98:1, “O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.”	Mary said God is opposed to the proud.
Luke 1:52, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.”	Job 5:11, “So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.”	Mary said God exalts the humble.
Luke 1:53, , “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; and sent away the rich empty-handed.”	Psalm 107:9, “For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.”	Mary said God feeds the hungry.
Luke 1:54 “”He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy,”	Luke 1:52, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.” Isaiah 44:21, “Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.”	Mary said God is merciful.
Luke 1:55, “As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”	Genesis 17:7, “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.”	Mary said God spoke to the fathers.
Luke 2:48, “When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.'”	Note: Jesus had been gone for three days. Jesus was in the grave for three days (Matt. 12:40). Mary was dissatisfied with Jesus. Didn’t she understand who He was?
John 2:3, “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.'”	Mary informed Jesus. Didn’t she know that He already knew that?
John 2:5, “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.””	Mary’s last words were instructions to do what Jesus says to do.

 

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