963
Since the Virgin Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been
treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church.
"The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the
Mother of God and of the redeemer.... She is 'clearly the mother of the members
of Christ' ... since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth
of believers in the Church, who are members of its head."500 (LG 53; cf. St. Augustine, De virg. 6: PL 40,399.) "Mary,
Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church."501
I.
MARY'S MOTHERHOOD WITH REGARD TO THE CHURCH
Wholly
united with her Son . . .
964
Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows
directly from it. "This union of the mother with the Son in the work of
salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to
his death";502 (LG 57. ) it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion:
Thus
the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully
persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in
keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only-begotten Son the intensity
of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother's heart, and
lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim, born of her: to be given,
by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple, with
these words: "Woman, behold your son."503
965
After her Son's Ascension, Mary "aided the beginnings of the Church by her
prayers."504 (LG 69.) In her association with the apostles and several women,
"we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had
already overshadowed her in the Annunciation."505
.
. . also in her Assumption
966
"Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original
sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and
soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so
that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and
conqueror of sin and death."506 (LG 59; cf. Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950): DS 3903; cf. ⇒ Rev 19:16.) The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a
singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
In
giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition, you did not leave the
world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived
the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.507
.
. . she is our Mother in the order of grace
967
By her complete adherence to the Father's will, to his Son's redemptive work,
and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church's
model of faith and charity. Thus she is a "preeminent and . . . wholly a unique member of the Church"; indeed, she is the "exemplary
realization" (typus)508 (LG 53; 63. ) of the Church.
968
Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further.
"In a wholly singular way, she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope,
and burning charity in the Savior's work of restoring supernatural life to
souls. For this reason, she is a mother to us in the order of grace."509
969
"This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly
from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she
sustained without wavering beneath the cross until the eternal fulfillment of
all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but
by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal
salvation .... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the
titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."510
970
"Mary's function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique
mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin's
salutary influence on men . . . flows forth from the superabundance of the
merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all
its power from it."511 (LG 60. ) "No creature could ever be counted along with
the Incarnate Word and Redeemer, but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared
in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful and as the one goodness
of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique
mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold
cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source."512 (LG 62.)
II.
DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
971
"All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion
to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."513 ( Lk 1:48; Paul VI, MC 56.) The Church
rightly honors "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most
ancient times, the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of 'Mother of
God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs....
This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is
given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and
greatly fosters this adoration."514 (LG 66. ) The liturgical feasts dedicated to the
Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an "epitome of the
whole Gospel," express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.515
III.
MARY - ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON OF THE CHURCH
972
After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking at Mary. In her, we contemplate what the
Church already is in her mystery on her own "pilgrimage of faith,"
and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, "in
the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity," "in the communion
of all the saints,"516 ( LG 69.) The Church is awaited by the one she venerates as
Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.
In
the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and
soul in heaven is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be
perfected in the world to come. Likewise, she shines forth on earth until the
day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim
People of God.517
IN
BRIEF
973
By pronouncing her "fiat" at the Annunciation and giving her consent
to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son
was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical
Body.
974
The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was
completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she
already shares in the glory of her Son's Resurrection, anticipating the
resurrection of all members of his Body.
975
"We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the
Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the
members of Christ" (Paul VI, CPG # 15).
GO TO:
ARTICLE 9
PARAGRAPH 1 THE CHURCH IN GOD'S PLAN
PARAGRAPH 2.THE CHURCH - PEOPLE OF GOD, BODY OF CHRIST, TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
PARAGRAPH 3.THE CHURCH IS ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC
PARAGRAPH 6.MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
SECTION TWO: CREEDS
CHAPTER THREE:
CHAPTER THREE:
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