THE CATECHISM OF
THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH
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THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION TWO
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] "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church."[501]
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] 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] 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] 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 unique member of the Church"; indeed, she is the
"exemplary realization" (typus)[508] 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 fulfilment 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] "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]
971 "All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the
Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."[513] 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] 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]
972 After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can
find no better way to conclude than by looking to 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] 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 al ready 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).
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