Perhaps his best known work, Michelangelo’s Pieta is now behind glass for its protection in the basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome.

The material is this section explores teaching about Mary and Marian theology from a Roman Catholic perspective.  The articles in this section are provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mary in the Catechism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains the fundamental Christian truths formulated in a way that facilitates their understanding. The Catechism conveys the essential and fundamental content of Catholic faith and morals in a complete and summary way.   Throughout the Catechism,  Catholic belief about the Blessed Virgin Mary and her place in the Church is explained.  Listed below are the particular passages that pertain to Mary.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church is accessible online at: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/.

Christ's Mother by the power of the Holy Spirit, 437, 456, 484-86, 723-26
the Church and active example and type of the Church, 967
Church reaches towards perfection in, 829
place in the mystery of the Church, 773, 963-72
spiritual motherhood, 501

Mary in the economy of salvation
Annunciation, 484, 490
assent, 148, 490, 494
Assumption, 966
conception by the Holy Spirit, 437, 456, 484-86, 495, 723
the Immaculate Conception, 490-93
mediatrix of grace, 969
predestination of, 488-89, 508
preserved from sin, 411
virginity, 496-98, 502-07
visitation to Elizabeth as God s visitation to His people, 717
works of the Holy Spirit, 721-26

Mary as exemplar
of holiness, 2030
of hope, 64
of obedience of faith, 144, 148-49, 494
of prayer in the "Fiat" and "Magnificat," 2617, 2619
of union with the Son, 964
and witness of faith, 165, 273

titles of Mary
Advocate, Help, Benefactress, Mediatrix, 969
Assumed into heaven, 966
Eschatological icon of the Church, 967, 972
Ever Virgin, 499-501
Full of grace, 722, 2676
Handmaid of the Lord, 510
"Hodigitria" or "She shows the way," 2674
Immaculate, 491-92
Mother of Christ, 411
Mother of the Church, 963-70
Mother of God, 466, 495, 509
Mother of the living, 494, 511
The New Eve, 411
"Panagia" or All Holy, 493
Seat of Wisdom, 721

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MARY

Click on the link below to take a quiz that will test your knowledge about Catholic teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/quizzes/bvm.htm