Mary, Mother of God
The Blessed Virgin Mary, who is rightly called the Mother of God, was a woman of singular holiness and virtue. Her consent to bearing the Son of God – “let it be done to me according to your word” – is a model for us of total submission to the will of God.
The Catechism highlights Mary's maternal role for the Church in heaven, seeing her as the "New Eve" and "Mother of the Church" who intercedes for believers, building on her unique grace as Mother of God, preserved from sin (CCC 490-493, 721-726), ever-virgin, and assumed into heaven, serving as the eschatological icon (ultimate model) of what the Church is and will be in glory. She's a model of faith and obedience, leading us to Jesus, not away from Him, continuing her motherly care for Christ's members.
Free from all sin and full of grace, Mary, who is closest to Jesus and closest to us, gave her consent (fiat) to the Father's plan of Redemption. As a woman (Eve) brought about death, a woman (Mary) helped usher in life. This daughter of Adam became, in the fullness of time, the Mother of Jesus. Her faith and obedience she employed for our everlasting benefit.
From Christ's conception until His Death, Mary was inseparably linked with Jesus in His salvific work, especially in the Visitation, the Nativity, the arrival of the Shepherds and the Magi, the Presentation and finding in the Temple, the Wedding Feast of Cana, Christ's Preaching of the Kingdom and the Crucifixion. While on earth, Mary's life was like any other, filled with the labors and cares of the home.
Even after Jesus' Resurrection, Mary did her part. She prayerfully assisted the early Church as she, the Apostles, the holy women and Jesus' brethren actively awaited the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. After her Assumption, Our Lady was crowned by the Lord as Queen of the Universe, signifying that Mary is more fully conformed to her Divine Son.
When God decided that the Son would become the Word made flesh, He chose Mary to be His Mother. Our Lady is not only the Mother of the Redeemer but also the Lord's associate and handmaiden. As Mother, she conceived, bore and nourished Christ, as well as presented Him in the Temple and stood near His Cross. By her obedience, faith, hope and charity, she helped to restore God's life to us. She is Our Mother "in the order of grace."
CCC 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).
We look to her and her husband, St. Joseph, as exemplars of the Christian family and of the kind of holiness we must seek for ourselves in hopes of someday attaining eternal life with God.
Mary's Motherhood proceeds unceasingly from the Annunciation until her sons and daughters enter Paradise. From Heaven she assists her beleaguered children on earth. No wonder she is saluted as Advocate, Helper, Benefactress and Mediatrix--titles that do not disturb the truth of Christ's unique office as Mediator. The role of Mary, who aids the Faithful in following Christ, is secondary to that of Jesus, who freely invited Mary to cooperate with Him.
Mary is intimately united to Christ's Church, thanks to Jesus for all He has given to her. She is a pattern (type) of the Church in faith, charity and perfect union with Jesus. Both Mary and the Church are virgin and mother. In her faith and obedience, Mary was empowered by the Holy Spirit to bear the Father's Son, who is the first among the Faithful. Our Mother participates in the generation and formation of the Faithful.
The Mother of Jesus gives hope and solace to her wayfaring sons. To contemplate Mary, who is in Heaven body and soul, is to see the faultless image and beginning of the Church as the Church desires,
hopes and truly will be. The influence on earth of Our Lady, who is a sign of hope and comfort to the People of God as they progress along the way to Everlasting Life, will continue until the Second Coming of her Divine Son.
—Deacon Gerry Flamm
“Dear children! Today too I rejoice with you and call you to goodness. I want each of you to reflect and carry peace in your heart and say: I want to put God in the first place in my life! In this way, little children, each of you will become holy. Tell everyone, little children, I wish you well and he will return good to you and goodness, little children, will settle in the heart of every person. I, little children, bring to you tonight the goodness of my Son who gave his life to save you. Therefore, little children, rejoice and stretch out your hands to Jesus, who is only goodness. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
