Cathal BarryThe Virgin Mary’s role as mother of the Church flows directly from Christ, writes Cathal Barry
Since the Virgin Mary’s role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has already been treated in these pages, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church.
Mary’s role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it, according to the Catechism.
The Second Vatican Council taught that 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”.
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church states that after her Son’s Ascension, Mary “aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers”.
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,” Lumen Gentium says.
Heavenly glory
Pope Pius XII declared Mary’s Assumption: “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.”
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, according to Church teaching, is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.
The Catechism states that 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 realisation” of the Church.
Yet, 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 Saviour’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace” (Lumen Gentium).
The Second Vatican Council clarifies, however that Mary’s function as a mother “in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power”.
The Church has honored her as “the Mother of God” from ancient times and has special devotion to Mary which differs essentially from the adoration given to the Trinity. Her liturgical feasts and the rosary express this devotion.
After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission and destiny, the Catechism states that “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, the Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.”