Christendom College faculty and alumni priests feature in a new seven-part video series titled “Mary, Explained,” providing a rich, emotionally engaging look into Mary, who she is, and how the faithful can imitate her example in today’s world.
Produced by the college’s home Diocese of Arlington, the series debuted its first episode this past week, focusing on Mary as a person. The initial episode features commentary from Christendom alumnus Fr. Christopher Tipton, professor Dr. Sara Pecknold, professor Dr. Matthew Tsakanikas, and professor Dr. R.J. Matava, with each episode unpacking why Catholics have such a strong devotion to the Mother of God.
“She’s the one creature that God chose to create without Original Sin so that she could be a fitting place for the dwelling of God Incarnate,” says Pecknold, who teaches in the college’s music department.
Episodes of the series will be released monthly through November, delving into questions that Catholics often encounter when asked about Mary, including her Immaculate Conception, why Catholics have devotions to Mary, whether she was a virgin, whether she was assumed into Heaven, and more.
In the initial episode, Tsakanikas, who teaches in Christendom’s theology department, provides an overview as to why Mary matters so much, turning to Scripture to explain the significance of her role in the history of the world.
“Ultimately, if someone were to say to me, ‘Explain why Mary matters to you as a Catholic?’ I would say because in St. Paul’s Letters, 1 Corinthians 15:45, it says that ‘the first Adam became a living being, the last Adam a life-giving spirit,’” explains Tsakanikas in the first episode. “Since St. Paul is very clear to us that there is a last Adam, there is also a last Eve. If someone were to say, ‘Summarize to me what the Virgin Mary is to you as a Catholic,’ I would say that she is our loving Mother because she is the new Eve who stands at the right hand of Jesus, the new Adam. For this reason, Catholics have a special devotion to her.”
To learn more about the series, visit here.