MARY-MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
"When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a women, born under the law"(Galatians.4,4).
God sent forth his Son, but to prepare a body for Him, God wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this, from all eternity God chose for the Mother of his Son a daughter of Israel, her name was Mary.
To become the Mother of God's Son, Mary was enriched with gifts appropriate to such a role. The Angel Gabriel salutes Her as "full of Grace"(Lk.1,28). Mary, by virtue of the merits of her Son, Jesus Christ, was preserved immune from all stain of sin and blessed with every spiritual blessing.
Mary's role in the church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. The union of the Mother and the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from Christ's conception up to his death;it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion…
Mary was standing by the Cross... When Jesus saw his Mother and the disciple standing by, Jesus said to his Mother, "Woman, here is your son. Then He said to the disciple:here is your son"(John;19,26-27).
There Mary stood, enduring with her Son Jesus the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice, and consenting to the immolation of this Victim, born of her. In a wholly singular way She co-operated by her obedience, faith, and burning charity in the Saviour's work of restoring supernatural life to all people. For this reason Mary is a Mother to us in the order of grace.
Mary's role in the church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. She was given by Christ dying on the cross, as a Mother to his disciples.
The Catholic Church honours Mary with special devotion. The feasts dedicated to Mary, and Marian prayers, such as the Rosary, express this devotion to the Mother of Jesus and of his Mystical Body, the Church.
We believe that Mary continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ's mystical body, the Church.
Fr. Cipriano Bontacchio