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Chapter 12 — "Mary: The Church's First and Most Perfect Member
OPENING PRAYER
The Canticle of Mary
("The Magnificat")
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Amen.
(Lk 1: 46-55)
"MARY: THE CHURCH'S FIRST AND MOST PERFECT MEMBER"
—CCC, Nos. 484–507, 963–972, 2673–2677
What relationship do you experience with Mary, the Mother of God?
When the young woman, Mary, was betrothed to a man named Joseph, the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would conceive and bear a son through the Holy Spirit, and to name him Jesus. “He will be called holy, the Son of God.” Despite having no relations with a man, Mary replied in faith, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’” (Lk 1:38). Through her faith and obedience, Mary became the new Eve, the mother of all the living.
In anticipation of Mary becoming the Mother of God, she was preserved free from Original Sin from the time of her conception. This is called the “Immaculate Conception.” The Church teaches further that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived, when he was born, and that she perpetually remained a virgin after that.
The Church teaches also that Mary, as the Mother of God, “occupies a place in the Church which is the highest after Christ and also closest to us” (LG, no. 54). Mary is the first and the greatest of all of Christ’s disciples. Mary is also honored with the title “Mother of the Church.”
In the mystery of her Assumption, immediately upon her death, Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven, where she shares in the glory of her Son’s resurrection, and in anticipation of the resurrection of all members of the Body of Christ. Mary continues to intercede with God for the Church and for all of humanity.
The only two dogmas to have been declared by any pope to be “infallible” are Mary’s “Immaculate Conception,” by Pope IX in 1854, and Mary’s “Assumption into Heaven,” by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Like Mary, as disciples of Christ, we are also called to respond in faith to allow Christ to be manifested through us.
Mary is worthy of our devotion. However, only God is to be adored and worshipped.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Please read this week
USCCA,Chapter 12, "Mary: The Church's First and Most Perfect Member," (pages 141–149), the
CCC, Nos. 484–507 (pages 122–128),;
963–972 (pages 251–253), 2673–2677 (pages 642–643) , and the
Compendium, Nos. 94–100, 196–199, and 562–563.
REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE
What fond memories do you have of your mother?
What will help you to grow in your relationship with Mary, the Mother of God?
We encourage and invite you to spend time to reflect, pray, and write in your journal about what you have read, seen, heard, or experienced this week. You can find some questions you may wish to consider here.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, in now, and ever shall be.
Amen.