Why do we refer to Mary as Mary and not Saint Mary?

Maybe not all but most, anyways.

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), April 28, 2002

Answers

It goes with out saying, Jackiea. Mary was the first saint in Heaven. You can call her Saint Mary, but she is also called the Blessed Virgin, Blessed Mother, etc.....

Mary is so special, that knowone has to say that she is a Saint!

David

-- David (David@excite.com), April 28, 2002.

David: your answer made me wonder. Was really The Blessed Mother the first Saint in heaven? We don't know when She died, if She did. Maybe She was taken to heaven without going through death? (after all, She was sinless)But we don't know the exact date of the Assumption. Did not the Holy Innocents go to heaven with Christ on the day of His Ascencion? And what about Abraham, and Moses, etc.? The Virgin is certainly the first Saint in heaven because of Her special status as Mother of Christ, but was She the first chronologically speaking?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 29, 2002.

Hi, Enrique.

After reading your post, I realized, that I worded mine, wrong! The Angels were the first saints, but Mary, was the first saint redeemed by Christ.

The Church has always believed that the souls of the just dead of human history, prior to the crucifixion of Jesus, had to wait in a special state for the redemtion of mankind. The gates of heaven were closed, because of the sins of our first parents, But God could make exceptions(as he did with Moses and Elijah).

God bless you, Enrique.

David

-- David (David@excite.com), April 29, 2002.

It might be as simple as this: the Pope is a priest, but we call him Pope using the name off the top of the hierarchy... if a priest becomes a monsignor we call him that instead of 'father'.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), April 29, 2002.

Emerald

I have actually met men who are monsignors and they still prefer to be called father just out of simplistic reasons. One priest i know who is now almost 100 yrs old to this day strongly prefers "Father" not Monsignor. This gentle prieest is also still very active in his faith to this day and is well loved. He is still active in the K of C as a faithful leader of the faithful.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), April 29, 2002.