The Communal Nature of Devotion to Our Lady

by Father Henry Grodecki, C.M.

      One of the most important documents to emerge from the Second Vatican Council was the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, also known as Lumen Gentium.  The final chapter is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary—Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.  We will review the communal relationship that exists between Mary and the Church, based on some of the teachings of this text.

Mary as Mother

We honor Mary as the human mother of the Son of God.  As Jesus’ mother, she is the Mother of the Church, and our mother.  Because of her close bond to Jesus as his earthly mother, she brings us nearer to him and brings us all into relationship with one another.

When Mary received the Holy Spirit the first time at the Annunciation, she became the first and foremost member of the Church.  The faith Mary showed in God’s promise of salvation is a wonderful example for us.  Her humble acceptance of the will of God allowed us to be the Church.  By becoming members of the Church through our Baptism, we too are eligible to receive her Son’s gift of salvation.

Mary and the Church

As the new Eve, Mary brought new life into the world, life extinguished by the sin of Adam and Eve.  As a Church, we strive to come closer to our own salvation by imitating Mary’s sanctity, faith, charity, and love.  However, we must still conquer sin and death, and by following Mary’s perfect example, we can.  Together as one body, we continue to grow as the Body of Christ, and attain our own salvation.

The Holy Spirit descended upon Mary a second time when she was with the disciples in the Upper Room at Pentecost.  God reaffirmed Mary’s place as Mother of the Church.  As Mother of the Church, Mary, along with the disciples, received the graces of the Holy Spirit.  And as Mother of the Church and our mother, Mary shares these graces with us her children.  The first descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary made her the Mother of Christ.  The second descent made her the Mother of the Body of Christ, the Church.