Christ the head, Mary ...?

[Samson01]

Is Mary the “Church” which grace flows through? I know we are the body of the Church, but…thanks, Samson.

 

[bcprincess]

Perhaps its like most families

Dad might be the head but mum is the heart

 

[LilyM]

Is Mary the “Church” which grace flows through? I know we are the body of the Church, but…thanks, Samson.

I’ve often heard it said Mary is the neck - the connection between Head and Body through which everything passes that goes from one to the other

 

[hazcompat]

peace

 

[fred_conty]

Is Mary the “Church” which grace flows through? I know we are the body of the Church, but…thanks, Samson.

“Christ redeemed us, but it is in God’s plan that the application to individual souls of the Redemption Christ won should be by fellow members of the race; that we are not meant to be only recipients of redemption, still less spectators and no more; we are all called to be stewards in the dispensing of graces. The principal ways for every one of us are love, prayer, suffering.”

“None of these things would be of any effect if Christ had not died for us; but in union with his redemptive act they are of immense power. From the beginning of the Christian Church, their effect is taken for granted. Thus St. Paul can tell his converts to pray for others precisely because there is one Mediator between God and man(ITim 2:5). In other words the fact that Our Lord is Mediator does not make our prayer for one another unnecessary; it makes it effective.” “Everyone’s prayers can help others, but the holier, the more. With Christ and in
Christ we are all called upon to take a part in redeeming others. All are meant to take a part in his redeeming works, but Mary above all; for she was sinless, she was wholly love, she suffered supremely.”

“…she is the first steward in the dispensing of graces.”

Theology for Beginners by E.F. Sheed P 132

For futher study on Mary mediatrix of all graces, refer to the following site:
tldm.org/news5/mediatrix1.htm

 

[Samson01]

Thanks everyone for your replies…I think Fred nailed it pretty good, but wondering a bit more on the mysical side of this union and relationship…thanks, Samson.

 

[hazcompat]

maybe this?

ewtn.com/library/Montfort/SECRET.HTM

peace

 

[Samson01]

maybe this?

ewtn.com/library/Montfort/SECRET.HTM

peace

I read the introduction and it is compelling…When I sat down to read True Devotion, I didn’t get up til it was finished. It was a one off and got it the first time around for some reason. Thanks for the link to this book. Samson

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Is Mary the “Church” which grace flows through? I know we are the body of the Church, but…thanks, Samson.

The Church is the body of Christ which are the believers, and Mary is the Mother of the Church.

Jim

 

[Samson01]

The Church is the body of Christ which are the believers, and Mary is the Mother of the Church.

Jim

I agree…as the Lords Mother and in His image, our Mother, as commanded from the Cross. I’ve heard a few times regarding marriage, that as the husband is the head of the family, the wife is the heart. I wonder how this/if this relates? Thanks, Samson

 

[callmeChris]

Lumen gentium

Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 21 November 1964.

Excerpts from CHAPTER VIII: OUR LADY, from sections 60-65.

Mary’s Role in the Church

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 originates not in any inner necessity but in the disposition of God. It 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. It does not hinder in any way the immediate union of the faithful with Christ but on the contrary fosters it.

The predestination of the Blessed Virgin as Mother of God was associated with the incarnation of the divine word: in the designs of divine Providence she was the gracious mother of the divine Redeemer here on earth, and above all others and in a singular way the generous associate and humble handmaid of the Lord. She conceived, brought forth, and nourished Christ, she presented him to the Father in the temple, shared her Son’s sufferings as he died on the cross. Thus, in a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Savior in restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.

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 fulfillment 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.[15] By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.[16] This, however, is so understood that it neither takes away anything from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator.[17]

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.

The Church does not hesitate to profess this subordinate role of Mary, which it constantly experiences and recommends to the heartfelt attention of the faithful, so that encouraged by this maternal help they may the more closely adhere to the Mediator and Redeemer.

Mary, type or figure of the Church

By reason of the gift and role of her divine motherhood, by which she is united with her Son, the Redeemer, and with her unique graces and functions, the Blessed Virgin is also intimately united to the Church. As St. Ambrose taught, the Mother of God is a type of the Church in the order of faith, charity, and perfect union with Christ.[18] For in the mystery of the Church, which is itself rightly called mother and virgin, the Blessed Virgin stands out in eminent and singular fashion as exemplar both of virgin and mother.[19] Through her faith and obedience she gave birth on earth to the very Son of the Father, not through the knowledge of man but by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, in the manner of a new Eve who placed her faith, not in the serpent of old but in God’s messenger without waivering in doubt. The Son whom she brought forth is he whom God placed as the first born among many brethren (Rom. 8:29), that is, the faithful, in whose generation and formation she cooperates with a mother’s love.

The Church indeed contemplating her hidden sanctity, imitating her charity and faithfully fulfilling the Father’s will, by receiving the word of God in faith becomes herself a mother. By preaching and baptism she brings forth sons, who are conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of God, to a new and immortal life. She herself is a virgin, who keeps in its entirety and purity the faith she pledged to her spouse. Imitating the mother of her Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, she keeps intact faith, firm hope and sincere charity.[20]

But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle (cf. Eph. 5:27), the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary who shines forth to the whole community of the elect as the model of virtues. Devoutly meditating on her and contemplating her in the light of the Word made man, the Church reverently penetrates more deeply into the great mystery of the Incarnation and becomes more and more like her spouse. Having entered deeply into the history of salvation, Mary, in a way, unites in her person and re-echoes the most important doctrines of the faith: and when she is the subject of preaching and veneration she prompts the faithful to come to her Son, to his sacrifice and to the love of the Father. Seeking after the glory of Christ, the Church becomes more like her lofty type, and continually progresses in faith, hope and charity, seeking and doing the will of God in all things. The Church, therefore, in her apostolic work too, rightly looks to her who gave birth to Christ, who was thus conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that through the Church he could be born and increase in the hearts of the faithful. In her life the Virgin has been a model of that motherly love with which all who join in the Church’s apostolic mission for the regeneration of mankind should be animated.

 

[TiggerS]

Mary, Mother of Jesus, is Mother of The Church and therefore of all members including The Head of The Church, Jesus. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth - and the Incarnation of The Second Person of The Blessed Trinity came about through Mary who was and is the mother of the Incarnated Second Person of The Blessed Trinity, Jesus.

 

[hazcompat]

Samson,

Peace. When you finish “The Secret of Mary”, i have found frequent use of this link helpful.

ewtn.com/library/montfort/handbook.htm

Joy on the Journey.

peace

 

[hazcompat]

Redemptoris Mater
Ioannes Paulus PP. II
1987 03 25

“The double greeting is due to the fact that in the soul of this “daughter of Sion” there is manifested, in a sense, all the “glory of grace,” that grace which “the Father…has given us in his beloved Son.” For the messenger greets Mary as “full of grace”; he calls her thus as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name: Miryam (= Mary), but by this new name: “full of grace.” What does this name mean? Why does the archangel address the Virgin of Nazareth in this way?”

vatican.va/edocs/ENG0224/__P3.HTM

peace

 

[Samson01]

Thanks all. Some good idea’a and docs/papers to consider. I always liked the saying, “well how full of grace does one have to be?”. Samson