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Mary, pre-eminent member of the Church

Blessed John Paul II's Catechesis
30 July 1997 - in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish

"1. Mary’s exceptional role in the work of salvation invites us to deepen the relationship that exists between her and the Church.

According to some people Mary cannot be considered a member of the Church, since the privileges conferred on her, the Immaculate Conception, her divine motherhood and her unique cooperation in the work of salvation, place her in a condition of superiority with respect to the community of believers.

The Second Vatican Council, however, does not hesitate to present Mary as a member of the Church, nevertheless specifying that she is "pre-eminent and ... wholly unique" (Lumen gentium, n. 53): Mary is the type of the Church, her model and mother. Differing from all the other faithful, because of the exceptional gifts she received from the Lord, the Blessed Virgin nonetheless belongs to the Church and is fully entitled to be a member.

2. Conciliar teaching finds a significant basis in Sacred Scripture. The Acts of the Apostles show Mary present from the beginning of the primitive community (cf. Acts 1:14), while she shares with the disciples and some women believers the prayerful expectation of the Holy Spirit, who will descend on them.

After Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin continues to live in fraternal communion with the community and takes part in the prayers, in listening to the Apostles' teaching, and in the "breaking of bread", that is, in the Eucharistic celebration (cf. Acts 2:42).

She who had lived in close union with Jesus in the house of Nazareth, now lives in the Church in intimate communion with her Son, present in the Eucharist.

3. Mother of the only begotten Son of God, Mary is Mother of the community which constitutes Christ’s mystical Body and guides its first steps.

In accepting this mission, she is committed to encouraging ecclesial life with her maternal and exemplary presence. This solidarity derives from her belonging to the community of the redeemed. In fact, unlike her Son, she had need of redemption since "being of the race of Adam, she is at the same time also united to all those who are to be saved" (Lumen gentium, n. 53). The privilege of the Immaculate Conception preserved her from the stain of sin, because of the Redeemer’s special saving influence.

As "pre-eminent and as a wholly unique member of the Church", Mary uses the gifts God has granted her to achieve fuller solidarity with the brothers and sisters of her Son, now her children too.

4. As a member of the Church, Mary places her personal holiness, the fruit of God’s grace and of her faithful collaboration, at the service of her brothers and sisters. The Immaculate Virgin is an unfailing support for all Christians in their fight against sin and a constant encouragement to live as those redeemed by Christ, sanctified by the Spirit, and children of the Father.

As a member of the first community, "Mary the Mother of Jesus" (Acts 1:14) is respected and venerated by all. Each one understands the pre-eminence of her who brought forth the Son of God, the one universal Saviour. Furthermore, the virginal character of her motherhood allows her to witness to the extraordinary contribution to the Church’s good offered by the one who, giving up human fruitfulness through docility to the Holy Spirit, puts herself completely at the service of God’s kingdom.

Called to collaborate intimately in her Son’s sacrifice and the gift of the divine life to humanity, Mary continues her motherly work after Pentecost. The mystery of love contained in the Cross inspires her apostolic zeal and commits her, as a member of the Church, to spreading the Good News.

The words of the crucified Christ on Golgotha: "Woman, behold, your Son" (Jn 19:26), with which her role as the universal mother of believers is recognized, unfold before her motherhood with new and limitless horizons. The gift of the Holy Spirit, received at Pentecost through the exercise of this mission, induces her to offer the help of her motherly heart to all who are on their way towards the total fulfilment of God’s kingdom.

5. A pre-eminent member of the Church, Mary lives a unique relationship with the divine persons of the Most Holy Trinity: with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Council, in calling her "Mother of the Son of God", and therefore "beloved daughter of the Father and the temple of the Holy Spirit" (Lumen gentium, n. 53), recalls the primary effect of the Father’s love which is the divine motherhood.

Aware of the gift she has received, Mary shares with believers the attitudes of filial obedience and heartfelt gratitude, encouraging each one to recognize the signs of divine benevolence in his own life.

The Council uses the expression "temple" (sacrarium) of the Holy Spirit, intending to emphasize the link of presence, love and collaboration that exists between the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Spirit. The Blessed Virgin, who is already invoked by Francis of Assisi as the "Bride of the Holy Spirit" (Antiphon "Santa Maria Vergine" in: Fonti Francescane, 281), by her example encourages the other members of the Church to entrust themselves generously to the mysterious action of the Paraclete, and to live with him in constant communion of love."

 

After his Catechesis, Pope John Paul II greeted the pilgrims at the General Audience in numerous languages:


"J'accueille avec plaisir les pèlerins de langue française. En particulier, j'offre mes vœux fervents aux Sœurs de la Charité de Saint-Louis. Et je salue très cordialement le groupe des Caravelles du Mouvement des Guides de France; à l'occasion de leur pèlerinage à Rome, je leur souhaite de grandir dans la foi et de se préparer avec enthousiasme à leur avenir de femmes dans la société et dans l'Église.

À tous, je donne volontiers la Bénédiction apostolique.

I am pleased to greet the visitors from St. John's University in New York, including the recent graduates of the University's Rome Center. Upon all the English-speaking pilgrims, especially those from Scotland, Japan, the Philippines and the United States, I cordially invoke the joy and peace of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Indem ich Euch der Fürsprache der Jungfrau Maria empfehle, heiße ich alle deutschsprachigen Pilger und Besucher herzlich willkommen. Mein besonderer Gruß gilt den anwesenden Jugendlichen. Euch allen und Euren Lieben daheim sowie den über Radio Vatikan und das Fernsehen mit uns verbundenen Gläubigen erteile ich gerne den Apostolischen Segen.

Saludo con afecto a los peregrinos de lengua española que participan en esta audiencia, en especial al grupo de la Organización Juvenil Española, a la coral de la Virgen del Mar de Almería, así como a las quinceañeras venidas de México y al grupo Mariachi Juvenil Guadalupano. Que el ejemplo de María os ayude a recibir con gozo los dones del Espíritu Santo y a responder a ellos con generosidad. A todos os imparto de corazón la Bendición Apostólica. Muchas gracias.

Saúdo afectuosamente o grupo de Escuteiros de Moimenta da Beira e todos os restantes peregrinos de língua portuguesa, sobre cujas vidas invoco a graça e a paz do Senhor a fim de permanecerem «sempre alerta, para servir». Desça, sobre vós e vossos familiares, a minha Bênção.

[Traduzione italiana del saluto in lingua danese]

Spero che la vostra visita qui a Roma sia una buona preparazione per la festa Pasquale.

Buona Pasqua a voi e alle vostre famiglie.

Dio benedica tutti voi e tutta la Danimarca e la Norvegia.

[Traduzione italiana del saluto in lingua lituana]

Sono lieto di accogliere i pellegrini giunti dalla Lituania. Cari Fratelli e Sorelle, grato per la vostra presenza vi auguro di cuore che questo viaggio vi porti verso la luce della fede, indicando Cristo come unica fonte di speranza. Che la sua grazia operi in ciascuno una vera conversione, l'ardore d'impegnarsi sulla via della giustizia, della solidarietà e della carità.

Con questi voti benedico voi insieme a tutti i vostri cari in patria. Sia lodato Gesù Cristo.

[Traduzione italiana del saluto in lingua ceca]

Un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini provenienti dalla Boemia e dalla Moravia.

Auguro a voi tutti che le ferie estive giovino non solo alla salute del corpo, ma anche a quella dell'anima. Con questi voti volentieri vi benedico.

Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!

[Traduzione italiana del saluto in lingua slovacca]

Saluti fraterni ai pellegrini slovacchi da Košice, da Kmetovo e Vranov.

Cari fratelli e sorelle, siete venuti in pellegrinaggio a Roma. Qui alla tomba del santo apostolo Pietro potete rafforzare la vostra fede in Gesù Cristo. Qui nella basilica del santo papa Clemente potete venerare la tomba di San Cirillo, il quale ha dato ai vostri antenati la Sacra Scrittura nella loro lingua. Questi due luoghi sacri vi invitano a pregare con più fervore per la vostra nazione, affinché rimanga fedele alle sue radici cristiane. Che nessuno di voi perda la fiducia in Gesù Cristo. Per questa intenzione prego con voi e di cuore imparto la mia benedizione apostolica a voi e a tutta la nazione slovacca.

Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!

* * *

Rivolgo ora un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua italiana. Saluto in particolare i gruppi folcloristici di diverse Nazioni, partecipanti al "Festival della Collina" a Cori (Latina), i membri dell'Organizzazione Internazionale per l'Aiuto Chirurgico Pediatrico ai Paesi Emergenti ed i ragazzi bielorussi, ospiti della parrocchia san Castrese in Castel Volturno (Caserta).

Carissimi, auspico che queste occasioni di incontro fra popoli di diverse culture contribuiscano ad intensificare in ciascuno di voi la reciproca conoscenza, lo spirito di fraternità e di vera solidarietà.

Saluto poi cordialmente i giovani, i malati e gli sposi novelli.

Il tempo estivo è propizio per ritemprare le forze del corpo e dello spirito. Auguro a voi, cari giovani, di servirvi delle vacanze per approfondire il vostro itinerario religioso, nella ricerca di Cristo, Via, Verità e Vita. Auguro a voi, cari malati, giorni di distensione e di risposo fisico e spirituale ed invito voi, cari sposi novelli, a dedicare durante il tempo delle ferie più spazio alla preghiera ed al dialogo in famiglia."

© Copyright 1997 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana