Focolare Movement

Mary and the Church

Aug 24, 2018

Mary played a particular role in accompanying Jesus throughout his entire journey, from her “yes” at the Annunciation, to the “yes” at the foot of the Cross. In this way she became the Mother of the entire Church.

Mosaic by Paolo Scirpa (International Centre of the Focolare Movement, Rocca di Papa, Italy)

The Virgin Mary, […] is recognised and honoured as the true mother of God and the Redeemer. Redeemed in such a sublime way in view of the merits of her Son to whom she was united by a strict and indissoluble bond, she is honoured with the highest role and dignity as mother of the Son of God, and thus, favourite daughter of the Father and temple of the Holy Spirit. Due to this gift of eminent grace she surpasses by far all the other celestial and earthly creatures.” (Lumen Gentium, 53)She shines among the humble and poor of the Lord, who faithfully await and receive salvation from him.” (Lumen Gentium, 54)The blessed Virgin pursued her journey of faith and faithfully preserved her union with the Son up to the cross, where by a divine plan she suffered deeply with her only Son and with maternal love, associated herself with his sacrifice…” (Lumen Gentium, 58) “The love and veneration of the Mother of God is the soul of orthodox piety, its heart which warms and vivifies the whole body. Orthodox Christianity is life in Christ and in communion with his purest Mother […] love for Christ cannot be disjointed from love for the Mother of God […] Whoever does not venerate Mary does not even know Christ, and faith in Christ which does not include veneration for the Mother of God, is another faith, another Christianity from that of the Church.” (S. Bulgakov: Orthodox, p. 356) “In Mary, the ’yes’ of the entire humanity is present, and this unconditional ’yes’ is a cup which is offered, gathered and transmitted. So she who lived the hour of God, pronounced several times her ’yes’ of acceptance, and carried the Word in her being, is now Mother of mercy, Health of the sick and Refuge of sinners, Queen of the apostles and of peace, Mother of all of us and living image of the Church.” (Klaus Hemmerle, Chosen for mankind, p. 156)

___

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

Family: to forgive and to be forgiven

Family: to forgive and to be forgiven

We would like to share the testimony given by Aureliana and Julián from Paraguay during the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly held in Rome on 31st May-1st June, 2025, attended by 50.000 people and in the presence of Pope Leo XIV.

Searching for peace: a path in the hands of each of us

Searching for peace: a path in the hands of each of us

Eliminate every desire of power. In a world constantly torn apart by conflict and in following Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to build an “unarmed and disarming” peace, we want to share a reflection by Chiara Lubich that is extremely relevant for us today, taken from a 1981 Word of Life.