Mary, MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

Session 11 of “Why Catholic?” (year 1) explores more deeply Mary’s role as Mother and Model of the Church.  These titles of Mary are not new, but have been attributed to her from the beginning of Christianity, especially by the early Fathers of the Church.  More recently, Vatican II affirmed and reflected upon these roles of Mary in the life of the Church and in our own lives.   

Mary is the perfect model of faith and exemplifies the type of faith all of us in the Church should possess.  Mary desired nothing but to do the will of God, and all through her life she pondered with a docile heart the mighty works of God and the mystery of her Son, Jesus.  Thus, Mary is the first and perfect model of the Church’s pilgrimage of faith.  Mary is also the model and image of the Church’s destiny in Christ.  By being assumed, body and soul, into heaven, Mary already enjoys the fullness of the Resurrection and is a great sign of the victory won by Christ through the Cross.   

Mary is also the Mother of the Church in the order of grace.  Through this gift of Christ, Mary’s Motherhood not only is for Christ, the head, but also extends to the Body of Christ, the Church.   Just as Mary nurtured, protected, and provided for her Son, so does Mary nurture, protect, and provide for her children in the Church.  Mary is our spiritual Mother who desires to bring us into a deeper communion with her Son.   

As Catholics, Mary is a great gift to us from Christ who desires that we love her as our own spiritual mother and follow her example of virtue. Therefore, as we continue our own journey of faith, may we strive to grow in our relationship with Mary and entrust ourselves more deeply to her maternal care.