Mary

Catholic Online Biography of Saint John the Baptist

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=152

This link goes to a brief biography of Saint John the Baptist at Catholic Online.

Mary Magdalene: First Witness of the Resurrection

http://satucket.com/lectionary/Mary_Magdalene.htm

This article, expanding on Mary Magdalen as portrayed in the Episcopalian lectionary, tries to distinguish between four different women in the Gospels, all of whom have been identified with Mary Magdalene at various times. The article includes a quotation from the Penguin Dictionary of Saints to bring historical clarity to this question.

Catholic Encyclopedia Article on the Immaculate Conception

https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm

This article provides extensive information on the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, including scriptural background, proof from Tradition, patristic writings, liturgical celebration, and historical celebration.

Mary’s Immaculate Conception

https://northwestsvdpstl.org/sites/svdpstlnw/files/uploads/documents/marys_immaculate_conception.pdf

This article by Fr. William G. Most is a shorter article than the one in Catholic Encyclopedia, but it also covers the history of the doctrine as well as a discussion of the meaning of “full of grace” from the original Greek.

Immaculate Conception Article

https://www.churchyear.net/ic.html

An article titled "All About the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: Immaculate Conception History, Information, Prayers, Resources, Traditions & More”. The site also includes FAQs and is very readable.

BBC Article on the Feast of the Annunciation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/annunciation.shtml

This article from the BBC gives a short history of the feast of the Annunciation, discusses scriptural and prayer texts based on the Annunciation, and includes a brief discussion of feminist critiques of the celebration of the Annunciation.

Catholic Online Article: “Immaculate Conception and Assumption”

https://www.catholic.com/tract/immaculate-conception-and-assumption

This article examines both the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption from the point of view of fundamentalist Protestant objections. The article carries a nihil obstat, as well as an imprimatur from Bishop Robert Brom of San Diego.

Catholic Encyclopedia Article on the Feast of the Assumption

https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02006b.htm

This article in the Catholic Encyclopedia recounts the history of the belief and feast celebrating the Assumption. Note that some of the liturgical information is no longer accurate, as this encyclopedia was copyrighted in 1909. A note at the bottom adds the date (1950) of the papal bull declaring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be a dogma of the Church.

Assumption of Mary

http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/Assumption.htm

This article provides a short, more contemporary history of the feast and the dogma. A list of related resources is also given, with direct links. One of these links asks, “Is Assumption a Holy Day of Obligation?” (Answer: In the United States, not if it falls on a Saturday or a Monday.)

Catholic Encyclopedia Article on Litany of Loreto

https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09287a.htm

This exhaustive article in the Catholic Encyclopedia presents the historical background on Marian litanies in general and the Litany of Loreto in particular.

Deus Caritas Est, by Pope Benedict XVI

http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html

The Vatican Website provides the text of this papal encyclical.