Part One: The Profession of Faith › Section Two of Part One: The Profession of the Christian Faith: The Creeds ›› CHAPTER 3: I Believe in the Holy Spirit ››› Article 9: “I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church” ›››› §6 Our Lady

› IN BRIEF

Questions and Answers

950. Why is Our Lady “Mother of the Church”? (CCC 963) Our Lady is “Mother of the Church”, because she has participated in bringing about the birth of believers.
951. When is Mary’s motherhood with regard to the Church made manifest above all? (CCC 964) Mary’s motherhood with regard to the Church is made manifest above all when the dying Christ makes her a mother to His disciple: “Woman, behold your son” (Jn 19).
952. How did Our Lady help the beginnings of the Church after Christ’s Ascension? (CCC 965) Our Lady helped the beginnings of the Church after Christ’s Ascension by her prayers.
953. When was Our Lady exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things? (CCC 966) Our Lady was exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things after she was taken up body and soul into heaven.
954. Why is Our Lady the Church’s model of Faith and charity? (CCC 967) Our Lady is the Church’s model of Faith and charity because of her complete adherence:
1. to the Father’s will
2. to Christ’s redemptive work
3. to every prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Thus, Our Lady is the “exemplary realization” (typus) of the Church.
955. Why is Our Lady a mother to the Church in the order of grace? (CCC 968) Our Lady is a mother to the Church in the order of grace, because she co-operated in restoring supernatural life to souls.
956. Why is Our Lady invoked as Advocate, Helper, Benefactress and Mediátrix? (CCC 969-970) Our Lady is invoked as Advocate, Helper, Benefactress and Mediátrix, because from heaven she continues to bring to the Church the gifts of eternal salvation.
Our Lady’s function as mother of men does not diminish the unique mediation of Christ but rather shows its power.
957. What is the locus classicus for devotion to the Blessed Virgin? (CCC 971) The locus classicus for devotion to the Blessed Virgin is found in the Magníficat (Lk 1). “All generations will call me blessed.”
958. How is the veneration of Our Lady different from the adoration given to God? (CCC 971) The veneration of Our Lady is essentially different from the adoration given to God.
“Essentially” means “referring to the essence” which, in Our Lady’s case, is that of a creature while, in the second case, it refers to God Himself.
959. In what way is Mary the eschatological icon of the Church? (CCC 972) Mary is the eschatological icon of the Church in that she is the image and beginning of the Bride of Christ as she will be when perfected in the world to come.
The term “eschatological” means: “referring to the final destiny”.