One of the connections that has amazed me most is between the Ark of the Covenant and Mary.
It helped me understand how honoring Mary can lead me more deeply into the mystery of Christ—and how closely the Old and New Testaments belong together.
What the Ark carried
Hebrews 9:4 describes the Ark with the tablets of the covenant, the manna, and Aaron’s staff that had sprouted.
When I considered those together, I began to recognize connections to Jesus:
| Associated with the Ark | The connection to Christ |
|---|---|
| The tablets of the covenant | Jesus is God’s Word made flesh. |
| Manna from heaven | Jesus identifies Himself as the Bread of Life. |
| Aaron’s staff, a sign of his priestly calling | Jesus is our great High Priest. |
Read Hebrews 9:4, 11–12, John 1:14, and John 6:48–51.
Mary carried Jesus Himself: the Word made flesh, the Bread of Life, and our High Priest.
These are connections of foreshadowing and fulfillment—what the Church calls typology. The earlier signs help us recognize the greatness of the One who comes.
The overshadowing presence of God
At the end of Exodus, the cloud covers the tent of meeting, and God’s glory fills the tabernacle.
In Luke, Gabriel tells Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her.
Reading these passages together helps me recognize a connection between God dwelling among His people in the sanctuary and His coming to dwell among us in the humanity of Jesus.
Read Exodus 40:34–35 and Luke 1:35.
A visit that echoes the Ark’s journey
The parallels become especially striking when Mary visits Elizabeth.
In 2 Samuel 6, David asks how the Ark of the Lord can come to him. The Ark remains in the household of Obed-edom for three months. Later, David leaps and dances before the Lord as the Ark is brought to Jerusalem.
In Luke 1, Elizabeth wonders why the mother of her Lord has come to her. John leaps in her womb, and Mary stays about three months.
| The Ark’s journey | Mary’s visit |
|---|---|
| David wonders how the Ark of the Lord can come to him. | Elizabeth wonders why the mother of her Lord comes to her. |
| David leaps and dances before the Lord. | John leaps for joy when Mary, carrying Jesus, arrives. |
| The Ark remains in a household for three months. | Mary remains with Elizabeth about three months. |
These echoes help me understand why Catholics recognize Mary as the new Ark.
Read 2 Samuel 6:9–16 alongside Luke 1:39–56.
Why the Church calls Mary the Ark
The Catechism makes this connection explicit. Paragraph 2676 calls Mary the Ark of the Covenant because the Lord has made His dwelling in her.
Her significance is inseparable from the Son she carries and gives to the world.
What this helped me understand
As my belief in the Eucharist and the sacraments deepened, I became more willing to explore teachings I had understood less fully.
This was one of the discoveries that helped me appreciate Mary’s place in the faith.
Understanding the Ark helped me see Mary more clearly. Understanding Mary helped me marvel more deeply at Christ.
The God who revealed His presence among His people came to dwell among us—and Mary carried Him.