1. Mary was a real person. She was Jewish, like her son Jesus.
2. Mary’s motherhood of God was proclaimed as dogma — unquestionably true — by the Church at the Council of Ephesus in 431 CE.
3. Catholics pray to Mary, but not because she is a goddess.
4. Mary is important in Islam as well, in which Jesus is known as the prophet ‘Isa. She is mentioned dozens of times in the Qur’an.
5. Mary has inspired many of the world’s greatest works of art, including sculpture such as Michelangelo’s Pietà and music such as Franz Schubert’s setting of the prayer “Ave Maria.”
