Is Mary our sister?

[polki]

The priest at mass today said that he wanted to clear up some misconceptions about Mary’s role in the Church.
He said that:

1. “authentic Catholic teaching is that Mary is our sister, and Jesus is our brother.” (I thought she was the Mother of the Church and so therefore she is our mother because we are part of the Church.)
2. “to say that to ask Jesus for something, you should go through Mary, is incorrect.” (I thought you could, and that Catholics even could consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.)
3. “Mary is blessed, not because she is the Mother of God, but because she said yes to the will of God.” (I thought it was both.)

Is any and all of this true? Thank you for helping me to understand.

 

[godisgood77]

There truly are many analogies used when thinking of Jesus and Mary. There truly is **not **just one way and the Church does not teach only one way. Mary could be considered your sister in the sense that she is a human who was redeemed as all humans are through Christ. Jesus in the same sense could be considered our brother due to his taking on his human life on Earth, but then again this is one way to look at it.

Much confusion comes from the many different interpretations; particularly when one idea is put forward as the only way. For instance, some Catholics believe that you can not go to Christ directly and that you must go through Mary’s intercession. The truth is that you **can **ask for Mary (or any of the saints for that matter) to pray with you and intercede on your behalf. However, it certainly is not required.

I would not get too tied up in the arguments that inevitably arise out of this topic. Instead, find the way that most aligns with your spirituality and follow it. God will guide you and your relationship with develops, He will show you all.

 

[commenter]

There truly are many analogies used when thinking of Jesus and Mary. There truly is **not **just one way and the Church does not teach only one way. Mary could be considered your sister in the sense that she is a human who was redeemed as all humans are through Christ. Jesus in the same sense could be considered our brother due to his taking on his human life on Earth, but then again this is one way to look at it.

Not all analogies are equally valid, nor equally meaningful for a homily. The best homilies include truths that are NOT obvious, such as the motherhood of Mary, and that Jesus is our Savior. Those insights benefit our actions.

Much confusion comes from the many different interpretations; particularly when one idea is put forward as the only way.

Some interpretations have more truth than others. Would you have confidence in a geography teacher who said it doesn’t matter if you think the world is flat, or round, “Hey, whatever works for you”. Or a Health teacher who had the same attitude in the lesson on smoking and health.

For instance, some Catholics believe that you can not go to Christ directly and that you must go through Mary’s intercession. The truth is that you **can **ask for Mary (or any of the saints for that matter) to pray with you and intercede on your behalf. However, it certainly is not required.

In 2015, Catholics are are far more likely to neglect intercession of Mary and the saints than they are to over emphasize it.

I would not get too tied up in the arguments that inevitably arise out of this topic. Instead, find the way that most aligns with your spirituality and follow it. God will guide you and your relationship with develops, He will show you all.

Nope! Better to seek the Truth first; keep realigning - altering - your spirituality (i. e. conversion) to fit the Truth, rather than the other way around. New Year’s Day is when we should focus on conversion; my natural “spirituality” is the old man, what I am constantly struggling with, so I can become the new person in Christ. Seeking answers that comfortably “align” with my spirituality is about the worst thing I can do. God isn’t the only one who might “show you all”.

 

[godisgood77]

Some interpretations have more truth than others. Would you have confidence in a geography teacher who said it doesn’t matter if you think the world is flat, or round, “Hey, whatever works for you”. Or a Health teacher who had the same attitude in the lesson on smoking and health.

This is a red herring my friend… Comparing a geography teacher who teaches obvious falsehoods to a priest who is teaching that there are many roads you can take to get to Christ isn’t even the same sport. Same goes for the smoking/health comment…

Facts are facts… no one is implying that there are multiple versions of the truth. There are, however, many different types of spirituality… it you need proof of that, let’s just look at the major religious orders… Franciscan, Jesuit, Dominican… on and on and on. You can get to Christ in many ways. Through Mass, through Mary, through Joseph, through any of the litany of saints, through intercessory prayer, through direct prayer, through your neighbor, through nature… We should not limit God.

 

[cena]

The priest at mass today said that he wanted to clear up some misconceptions about Mary’s role in the Church.
He said that:

1. “authentic Catholic teaching is that Mary is our sister, and Jesus is our brother.” (I thought she was the Mother of the Church and so therefore she is our mother because we are part of the Church.)
2. “to say that to ask Jesus for something, you should go through Mary, is incorrect.” (I thought you could, and that Catholics even could consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.)
3. “Mary is blessed, not because she is the Mother of God, but because she said yes to the will of God.” (I thought it was both.)

Is any and all of this true? Thank you for helping me to understand.

I’m pretty sure Church teaching is that she is our mother. You can go through Mary to Jesus, you are right. To third one it is both.

 

[Sandraaustin]

The priest at mass today said that he wanted to clear up some misconceptions about Mary’s role in the Church.
He said that:

1. “authentic Catholic teaching is that Mary is our sister, and Jesus is our brother.” (I thought she was the Mother of the Church and so therefore she is our mother because we are part of the Church.)
2. “to say that to ask Jesus for something, you should go through Mary, is incorrect.” (I thought you could, and that Catholics even could consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.)
3. “Mary is blessed, not because she is the Mother of God, but because she said yes to the will of God.” (I thought it was both.)

Is any and all of this true? Thank you for helping me to understand.

They all can be seen as true, so no worries…although that’s quite a homily for today’s Feast Day which is The Solemnity of the Mother of God.

1. Mary is our mother, but nothing wrong with considering her to be our sister.
2. You can go to Jesus thru Mary, but you don’t have to. (It’s still a very good thing to do.)
3. Yes, it is both. I think the priest was referring to Luke 11:28 when someone in the crowd called out “Blessed is your mother…” And Jesus replied, “Blessed rather is the one who hears the will of God and obeys.” Meaning not that Mary wasn’t Blessed (which was pure grace) but that doing the will of God was the better thing. Also can show that familial ties are trumped by doing the will of God.

 

[polki]

Thank you for all your responses. To me. it seems a little irreverent to view Mary as a sister and Jesus as a brother, but I guess it might be just because I had never viewed it that way before.

 

[cena]

Thank you for all your responses. To me. it seems a little irreverent to view Mary as a sister and Jesus as a brother, but I guess it might be just because I had never viewed it that way before.

I’m pretty sure we are supposed to view as a mother. I’ve never heard of seeing her as a sister.

 

[polki]

I’m pretty sure we are supposed to view as a mother. I’ve never heard of seeing her as a sister.

That is what I had always understood as well.

 

[polki]

It’s confusing when different things are preached, whether or not they are/could be technically acceptable. I know what I was taught and will continue to view Mary as Mother of the Lord and of the Church, and Jesus as God the Son.

 

[Thomas_White]

The priest at mass today said that he wanted to clear up some misconceptions about Mary’s role in the Church.
He said that:

1. “authentic Catholic teaching is that Mary is our sister, and Jesus is our brother.” (I thought she was the Mother of the Church and so therefore she is our mother because we are part of the Church.)
2. “to say that to ask Jesus for something, you should go through Mary, is incorrect.” (I thought you could, and that Catholics even could consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.)
3. “Mary is blessed, not because she is the Mother of God, but because she said yes to the will of God.” (I thought it was both.)

Is any and all of this true? Thank you for helping me to understand.

While Jesus and Mary could perhaps be referred to as our brother and sister ster in faith, I don’t believe this is the authentic Catholic teaching. I never heard this view expressed during twelve years of Catholic eduction, and in fact I never heard the view expressed anywhere before. In agreement with many comments above, my understanding has always been that Mary is our spiritual Mother and Christ our Savior. I would be very uncomfortable with the idea that the Son of God is my brother, though I could understand it much better if the reference is to the historical Jesus who was also true man.

While it is correct that to say it isn’t necessary to pray for intercession by Mary, I am absolutely certain it is incorrect to say a Catholic should not do this. But I also know from experience that public speaking is fraught with mistakes, and that they are common–it is why we so often see clarifications of what was publicly said.

It isn’t always easy to express what one truly means while publicly speaking, and particularly so when a comment is extemporaneous. Consequently, if I had serious reservation or questions concerning a homily, or was troubled by it, I would talk directly with the priest before coming to any conclusions. My guess is the issue would be satisfactorily clarified.

 

[commenter]

Mary definitely plays a maternal role in terms of salvation history. She is the mother of Jesus, who is our brother. Because we are joined with Christ in His Body, she is, in relation to us, a mother (present tense). She is also the mother of God. This is Catholic teaching.

For Protestants, her role in relation to us is, or was, as a sister - in the past, not in 2015. This is because they regard her role as mother of Christ in an isolated, temporary way; she is not regarded as “mother of God”, nor is she regarded as having any maternal relationship to us. They also reject her perpetual virginity, so her maternal role is limited to only her lifetime, only to a few specific children.
The 2 options:

1.) Mary being (in relation to us) a past role as sister
or
2.) Mary being to us a permanent maternal role of current, active caring

are incompatible. The sermon gave the Protestant view of Mary, not the Catholic view. The Protestant view, and the Catholic view, are not equally valid.

 

[Thomas_White]

“Therefore, holy “brothers,” sharing in a heavenly calling, reflect on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession…” (Hebrews 3.1)

This verse from Hebrews is often cited as the Scriptual basis of the Catholic priesthood, first given by Christ to his Apostles during the Last Supper. As the high priest, Christ of course is “Father”, and it is a title of all those who succeeded Christ and the Apostles as priests.

While Christ is the Son of God, I cannot conceive of Him as my brother. I attended a Catholic high school taught by the Brothers of the Holy Cross. And we indeed referred to our Holy Cross teachers as “brothers”. This was their correct title. On the faculty were also several Catholic priests, and of course we addressed them as “Father”.

In a similar way, I do not view Mary as a sister. Catholic nuns are addressed as “Sister.” Mary is more than that. As the Mother of Jesus, her correct title is “Mother”.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

Here is what the Catechism says:

963 Since the Virgin Mary’s role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. "The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer. . . . She is ‘clearly the mother of the members of Christ’ . . . since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head."502 "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church."503

Online here:
scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm#963

 

[commenter]

The role of “Mary as sister” is incompatible with “Mary as mother”. Actually the Protestant view, presented in that sermon, is that Mary WAS our sister, who affects us now only as a role model. The Catholic view, Mary as our mother now, is different; not only are mothers different than sisters, but Mary has a role now, in relation to us as a role model but much more. Those who prayed to Mary and the saints have always known they can also pray directly to God; and they do. But those who have not been taught, or been discouraged from the understanding of Mary as mother now, don’t have that option, that freedom to pray to her, or the saints.

That’s why the sermon was so destructive: it closes doors. Consider how many saints have regarded Mary as their mother; now think about those who regarded her as their sister.

If this is a typical sermon at that parish, I encourage the OP to look into other parishes.

 

[Sandraaustin]

.
If this is a typical sermon at that parish, I encourage the OP to look into other parishes.

Yes, I’d double check first to make sure there was no misunderstanding on the listener’s part. I can’t imagine at least some of the members of the congregation haven’t already complained about a sermon like that, particularly on the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

 

[drforjc]

The role of “Mary as sister” is incompatible with "Mary as mother". Actually the Protestant view, presented in that sermon, is that Mary WAS our sister, who affects us now only as a role model. The Catholic view, Mary as our mother now, is different; not only are mothers different than sisters, but Mary has a role now, in relation to us as a role model but much more. Those who prayed to Mary and the saints have always known they can also pray directly to God; and they do. But those who have not been taught, or been discouraged from the understanding of Mary as mother now, don’t have that option, that freedom to pray to her, or the saints.

That’s why the sermon was so destructive: it closes doors. Consider how many saints have regarded Mary as their mother; now think about those who regarded her as their sister.

If this is a typical sermon at that parish, I encourage the OP to look into other parishes.

The bolded is simply incorrect. Mary as sister is valid. We Carmelites call “Mary our Mother, Sister, and Queen” with Church approbation.

Carmelites reflect on Mary under five different titles:

1. Mary is our Mother, and Carmelites even add another title - “Mother and Beauty of Carmel”
2. Mary is Patron of Carmelites - we love and serve her, and she protects us.
3. Mary is Sister of Carmelites. This idea was found in the first millenium and also in the teaching of
   Pope Paul VI. It reminds us that she is one like us, and that she cares for us and guides us.
4. Mary is the Most Pure Virgin. This title is common in Carmelite saints and writers and points to her undivided and pure heart.
5. Mary is a Model for Carmelites - we try to imitate her in all our thoughts and actions.

Every new generation discovers more insights into the riches of God and His Mother Mary, and the Carmelite Order is no different as we continue our own exploration of our beautiful Marian heritage.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

kilmacudcarmel.ie/ourladymtcarmel.html

 

[polki]

I can ask the priest about it further. I know he clearly said " we (Catholics) first and foremost view Mary as a sister and Jesus as a brother. That is authentic Catholic teaching." He went on to say that Vatican II clarified this.

He said that when he was raised (Pre-Vatican II,) a lot of focus was given to Mary that it almost distracted from Jesus.

He also said that the Rosary is not the only form of prayer that we should say. I agree with this but I’m not sure the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the time to say this.

 

[cena]

I can ask the priest about it further. I know he clearly said " we (Catholics) first and foremost view Mary as a sister and Jesus as a brother. That is authentic Catholic teaching." He went on to say that Vatican II clarified this.

He said that when he was raised (Pre-Vatican II,) a lot of focus was given to Mary that it almost distracted from Jesus.

He also said that the Rosary is not the only form of prayer that we should say. I agree with this but I’m not sure the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the time to say this.

That is not authentic Catholic teaching. I have never heard of anyone ever try to claim this.
We honor Mary because of her role with Jesus and the Trinity. When we honor Mary we honor Jesus. She leads the way to Jesus. Today she is practically forgotten it’s really sad

 

[godisgood77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by commenter View Post
The role of “Mary as sister” is incompatible with "Mary as mother". Actually the Protestant view, presented in that sermon, is that Mary WAS our sister, who affects us **now **only as a role model. The Catholic view, Mary as our mother now, is different; not only are mothers different than sisters, but Mary has a role now, in relation to us as a role model but much more. Those who prayed to Mary and the saints have always known they can also pray directly to God; and they do. But those who have not been taught, or been discouraged from the understanding of Mary as mother now, don’t have that option, that freedom to pray to her, or the saints.

That’s why the sermon was so destructive: it closes doors. Consider how many saints have regarded Mary as their mother; now think about those who regarded her as their sister.

If this is a typical sermon at that parish, I encourage the OP to look into other parishes.

The bolded is simply incorrect. Mary as sister is valid. We Carmelites call “Mary our Mother, Sister, and Queen” with Church approbation.

THANK-YOU for this post!! I think this sufficiently answers the question and should close the topic.