1.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLE 3

The book is a complete explanation of
the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

ARTICLE 3:
HE WAS CONCEIVED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY
.
To purchase the Book, or for theological
inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Telefax (02) 828-2338
Tel. (02) 828-9509
[email protected]

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2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every gift
I have comes from you. Expand my
vision so that I can appreciate your
goodness in the world around me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life
and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God—
Father, Son, and Spirit—in humility
and hope. Amen.
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 3. WHAT ARE THE THREE PARTS
OF THE 3RD ARTICLE?

The 3rd Article of the

Creed is divided into
three parts:

1. The Four
Marian Dogmas,
2. Jesus’ Early Life,
3. Jesus’ Public Ministry

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 4. THE FOUR MARIAN DOGMAS:
What are the Marian Dogmas?
A dogma is a doctrine of faith officially declared by
the Church, which every Catholic must believe. The
Four Marian Dogmas are:
1) Mary, 2) The 3) The 4) The
Mother Perpetual Immaculate Assumption
of God Virginity Conception

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 5. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:
What is the meaning of the First Marian Dogma?
 The First Marian Dogma,
defined by the Council of
Ephesus in 431 AD, declares
that the Virgin Mary is the
Mother of God, or in Greek
Theotokos. The solemnity is
celebrated on January 1.
 The reason of the dogma is
this: Mary is the Mother of
Jesus; Jesus is God:
therefore, Mary is the Mother
of God. To be precise, Mary is
the Mother of the
Incarnate Son of God, and
she is not a goddess.
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 6. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:
What are the biblical proofs of the First Marian Dogma?
1) The Annunciation: Gabriel 2) The Visitation: Elizabeth
said to Mary: “You will conceive exclaimed: “How does this
… the Son of the Most High” happen that the mother of
(Luke 1:31-32). Since Mary is my Lord should come to
the mother of Jesus; Jesus is me?” (Luke 1:43). The title
God: therefore, she can be “Lord”, or Kyrios in Greek, is
called Mother of God. applied only for God.

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 7. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD:
What is the history of the First Marian Dogma?
 The First Marian Dogma was
defined by the Council of
Ephesus in 431 AD. It was
declared against the heresy of
Nestorius, Patriarch of
Constantinople, who had
objected that Mary should be
called “Mother of Christ”
(Christotokos) and not “Mother of
God” (Theotokos).
 The dogmatic definition declared:
“If somebody does not believe
that the Immanuel is God, and
that therefore the Holy Virgin is
Theotokos, since she generated
in the flesh the Word who is God,
be excommunicated.”
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 8. THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY
What is the meaning of the Second Marian Dogma?
 The Dogma of the
Perpetual Virginity of
Mary, solemnly defined
by the Council of Nicea
(325 AD), states that
she remained virgin
for her whole life.
 The Greek term for this
dogma is Aeiparthenos,
which means “Ever
Virgin.” This implies that
Mary remained virgin
before, during, and
after the birth of
Christ.
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 9. THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY
Who are “the brothers and sisters” of Jesus?
 The “brothers and
sisters” of Jesus
(Mark 3: 32),
mentioned in the
Gospel are not
children of Mary,
but her
relatives.
 The Greek word
adelphoi could
mean “brothers”
or “relatives,” or
“community
members.”
 If Jesus had real brothers and sisters, from the cross he
should have entrusted Mary to them, and not to St. John.

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 10. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:
What is the meaning of the Third Marian Dogma?
 The Dogma of the Immaculate
Conception says that the Virgin
Mary was conceived without
the Original Sin, and remained
sinless for her whole life.
 It was solemnly declared by
Pope Pius IX on December 8,
1854, with the bull Ineffabilis
Deus.
 The title Immaculate derives
from the Latin words in and
macula, meaning “without stain.”
 We celebrate the Immaculate
Conception on December 8,
exactly nine months before the
Nativity of Mary (September 8).

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 11. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:
What are the three common errors about
the Immaculate Conception?
1. Mary is immaculate because she was conceived by
the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that Mary was
conceived in a natural manner by her parents, Joachim
and Anne, but without the stain of the Original Sin.
2. Mary is immaculate because she is a virgin. Indeed,
the fact that Mary is immaculate has nothing to do with
her virginity, lest we consider the natural intercourse
between husband and wife a sin.
3. Mary is immaculate, therefore she did not need a
Savior. In truth, all men need to be saved by Jesus; but
in the case of Mary, salvation was anticipated to her
conception, so that Jesus Christ could be born from a
sinless and perfectly pure mother.

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 12. THE IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION:
What are the biblical
proofs of the Immaculate
Conception of Mary?
 Genesis 3:15: “I will put
enmity between you and
the woman.” This affirms
the incompatibility
between Satan (sin) and
Mary.
 Luke 1:28: “Hail Mary,
full of grace, the Lord is
with you” (Luke 1:28).
Being full of the grace of
God, she was immune
from any stain of sin.
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 13. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:
What is the history of the Dogma of the
Immaculate Conception?
 In the Middle Ages, there was a
theological debate, between the
Dominicans and the Franciscans,
whether Mary was conceived
immaculate.
 In 1476, Sixtus IV established the
liturgical feast of the Immaculate
Conception on December 8; in 1854,
Pius IX officially proclaimed the Dogma
of the Immaculate Conception with
the constitution Ineffabilis Deus.
 Four years later, on February 1858,
during the apparitions in Lourdes,
Mary said to St. Bernadette Soubirous:
“I am the Immaculate Conception.”

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 14. THE ASSUMPTION:
What is the meaning of the Fourth Marian Dogma?
 The Dogma of the Assumption
of Mary states: “The Virgin
Mary, having completed the
course of her earthly life,
was assumed body and soul
into heavenly glory.”
 It was declared by Pius XII on
November 1, 1950, with the
bull Munificentissimus Deus, and
the solemnity is on August 15.
 The Assumption of Mary is
different from the Ascension of
Jesus: she was taken up into
Heaven by God; whereas Christ
ascended by his own power.

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 15. THE ASSUMPTION:
What is the biblical proof of the Assumption of Mary?
 Revelation 12:1: “A great sign
appeared in the sky: a woman
clothed with the sun, with the
moon under her feet, and on
her head a crown of twelve
stars.”
 She is crowned with 12 stars,
representing the 12 apostles,
because she is the Mother of
the Church.
 She is clothed with the sun,
representing the Holy Spirit.
 She has the moon under her
feet because she reflects like
the moon the love of God.
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 16. THE ASSUMPTION:
Did the Virgin Mary actually die?
The dogma does not specify
whether the Virgin Mary died or
fell asleep. There are two
traditions on the matter.
1. The Ephesus Tradition: The
Virgin Mary did not die but
simply fell asleep at Ephesus.
This is known as the Dormitio
Mariae
2. The Jerusalem Tradition: In
jerusalem the Virgin Mary died
and was buried. Three days
later, they found the tomb
completely empty and they
realized that she was assumed
body and soul to Paradise.
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17. THE PROPOSED FIFTH MARIAN DOGMA:
What is the proposed Fifth Marian Dogma?
 The proposed Fifth Marian Dogma is
defined in these terms: “Mary is the
Co-redemptrix, the Mediatrix of all
graces, and the Advocate.” So far no
official approval has been given by the
Church.
 Paul VI said that Mary is Advocate and
Mediatrix, but refused to add the
qualifier “of all graces.”
 Blessed John Paul II used the title Co-
redemptrix and Mother of the Redeemer,
but refused any dogmatic definition.
 Benedict XVI did not make any official
declaration, indicating that more time
and prayers are needed before the
Church could take a definite stand on the
issue.
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 18. JESUS’ EARLY LIFE:
Annunciation and Visitation
 The life is Jesus is divided into three parts:
1) EARLY LIFE: from birth to the age of 30;
2) PUBLIC MINISTRY: from baptism till Palm Sunday excluded;
3) PASCHAL MYSTERY: from Palm Sunday to Ascension.
The Annunciation: Gabriel The Visitation: Mary visited her
announced unto Mary that she cousin Elizabeth at Ein Karem, and
would become the mother of the proclaimed the Magnificat (cf.
Messiah (cf. Luke 1:26-38); The Luke 1:41-56). The feast day is
feast day is on March 25. on May 31.

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 19. JESUS’ EARLY LIFE:
Nativity and Circumcision
The Nativity: In Bethlehem, The Circumcision and Naming of
Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid Jesus: Eight days after the Nativity,
him in a manger (cf. Luke 2:1- the Holy Infant was circumcised and
14). The feast day is on was named Jesus (cf. Luke 2:21).
December 25. The feast day is on January 1.

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 20. JESUS’ EARLY LIFE:
Presentation and Finding of Jesus
The Presentation of Jesus to The Finding of Jesus in the
the Temple: Forty days after Temple: When Jesus was twelve
Christmas, Jesus was presented years old, he was lost in
to the Temple of Jerusalem (cf. Jerusalem. After three days he was
Luke 2:21-35). The feast day is found him in the Temple (cf. Luke
on February 2. 2:42-52).

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 21. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY:
Baptism and Temptations
The Baptism at the Jordan: The Temptations of Christ: After
At 30, Jesus was baptized by his Baptism, Jesus was tempted for
John in the Jordan (cf. Mark 40 days by the Devil. (cf. Matthew
1:4-11). The feast day is on the 4:1-11). We commemorate those
Sunday after Epiphany. 40 days during Lent.

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 22. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY:
Calling of the Apostles and Wedding at Cana
The Calling of the Apostles: The Wedding at Cana: The first
Jesus chose 12 disciples to miracle of Jesus was to transform
become his apostles. They ought water into wine at Cana, through
to be 12, in correspondence with the intercession of Mary (cf. John
the 12 tribes of Israel. 2:1-11).

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 23. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY:
Transfiguration and Beatitudes
The Transfiguration: Jesus was The Beatitudes: The summary
transfigured on Mount Tabor, in of Jesus’ preaching are the eight
Galilee, at the presence of Peter, Beatitudes, which define the
James and John (cf. Mark 9:2-9). true Christians (cf. Matthew
The feast day is on August 6. 5:1-12).

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