MSI Press Blog

  The following excerpt comes from  Saints I Know   by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission. Appropriate for Caturday -- the book is "written" by a cat -- and for the Easter season.  Saint Mary   The one who was from birth meant to be a saint and lived a holy and perfect life, Mary has done so much for the world and for us who live in it that a short article simply will not suffice. I will try my best to point out the things that seem important to a cat, but so many more things will remain unexpressed that your chore will become to find out as many more as you can—and probably you already know many. Mary appears in both the Bible and the Q’uran , and she has many names: Mary (Miriam in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and the people where he grew up), the Virgin Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception, Mother of God, Mother of Jesus, and, though her apparitions, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Mercy, and others The name, the Imm...

  Note: Today is the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Romand Catholic Church. Catholics and Orthodox venerate Mary with deep love; most Protestants respect her but avoid devotional practices. Catholics and Orthodox are surprisingly close to each other — the real divide is between both of them and Protestant traditions. 🕊️ Catholics: Mary as Immaculate, Assumed, and Intercessor Catholics hold four Marian dogmas: Mother of God (Theotokos) — defined at Ephesus in 431, shared with the Orthodox. Perpetual Virginity Immaculate Conception — Mary conceived without original sin. Assumption — Mary taken body and soul into heaven. Catholic devotion includes: Rosary Marian feasts Apparitions (Lourdes, Fatima) Titles like Ark of the Covenant , Seat of Wisdom , Queen of Heaven Catholics see Mary as the model disciple , the New Eve , and a powerful intercessor who prays for the Church. ✨ Orthodox: Mary as Panagia, the All‑Holy One Orthodox Christians share the ancient devotion to Ma...

  In Islam, Mary — Maryam in Arabic — is deeply revered, honored far more than many non‑Muslims realize. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an and has an entire chapter dedicated to her: Surah Maryam . Here’s how her role is understood: 🌿 Maryam: The Pure and Chosen One The Qur’an calls her “chosen above all women of the worlds” (Qur’an 3:42). She is celebrated for her faith, chastity, and obedience to God. Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus ( Isa ), seeing it as a miracle by God’s command — “Be, and it is.” Mary is not divine, nor is she part of a trinity; she is a human exemplar of devotion and purity . 🕊️ Mary in Islamic Devotion Muslims do not pray to Mary or venerate her as an intercessor. She is honored in sermons, art, and literature as a model of righteousness and courage. Her story is often told to inspire trust in God’s will , especially among women and families. ✨ Shared Reverence Across Faiths Like Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Musl...