8 Saints devoted to Mary Saint Anselm (Feast Day July 4) and was the 11th century Benedictine archbishop of Canterbury. He called Mary the "Theotokos", meaning that she is most holy, second only to God, and thus has the power of mercy. Compared to her, we are sinners who benefit from her intercession.

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (Feast Day March 18) was a 4th century Doctor of the Faith who preached against the heresy that claimed Mary was not the Mother of God.

Saint Ephrem of Syria (Feast Day June 9) was a 4th century deacon known for his hymns and sermons. In his hymn "On Christ's Nativity," he reflected on the Immaculate Virgin Mary: "The Lord came to her to make himself a servant. The Word came to her to keep silence in her womb."

Saint Ambrose (Feast Day December 7) was a 4th century bishop of Milan known as the "Patron of the Veneration of Mary". The first Doctor of the Church, he made it clear that Mary had life-long virginity. The Council of Milan made it an official Church teaching in the year 340.

Saint Augustine (Feast Day August 28) was a 4th century bishop of Hippo. His statements on Mary surpass in number and depth those of other early writers. He defended Mary as the ever-virgin mother of God who was full of grace and therefore free of temporal sins.

Saint Justin the Martyr (Feast Day June 1) preached that Mary was a new Eve, "in order that the disobedience which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction."

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (Feast Day June 28 or August 23) was one of the most important Church Fathers of the 2nd century. Known also as the father of Christian theology, he explained, "As Eve was seduced into disobedience to God, so Mary was persuaded into obedience to God; thus the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve."

Blessed Duns Scotus, OFM, (Feast Day November 8), one of the most important theologians of the 14th century, successfully defended the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

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