Mary Comparison
Table RCC8
| Roman Catholic Church | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin from the first instant of her conception (the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception) [§490, §491, §492]. | Mary, a descendant of Adam, was born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). |
| Mary, "the All-Holy," lived a perfectly sinless life [§411, §493]. | Mary was a sinner; God alone is holy (Luke 18:19; Romans 3:23; Revelation 15:4). |
| Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ [§496, §497, §498, §499, §500, §501, §502, §503, §504, §505, §506, §507, §508, §509, §510, §511]. | Mary was a virgin until the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:25). Later she had other children (Matthew 13:55, 56; Psalm 69:8). |
| Mary is the Mother of God [§963, §971, §2677]. | Mary was the earthly mother of Jesus (John 2:1). |
| Mary is the Mother of the Church [§963, §975]. | Mary is a member of the church (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 27). |
| Mary is the co-redeemer, for she participated with Christ in the painful act of redemption [§618, §964, §968, §970]. | Christ alone is the Redeemer, for He alone suffered and died for sin (1 Peter 1:18, 19). |
| At the end of her life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven (the doctrine of the Assumption) [§966, §974]. | Upon her death, Mary's body returned to dust (Genesis 3:19). |
| Mary is the co-mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions [§968, §969, §970, §2677]. | Christ Jesus is the one mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions (1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:13, 14; 1 Peter 5:7). |
| We should entrust ourselves to Mary, surrendering “the hour of our death” wholly to her care [§2677]. | We should entrust ourselves to the Lord Jesus, surrendering the hour of our death wholly to His care (Romans 10:13; Acts 4:12). |
| God has exalted Mary in heavenly glory as Queen of Heaven and Earth [§966]. She is to be praised with special devotion [§971, §2675]. | The name of the Lord is to be praised, for He alone is exalted above heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13). God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). |
