Joseph Hollcraft MA
Foundations of Catechetics CCP 211
Week 9: October 30, 2007

Catechesie Tredendae Mary, Mother and Model of the Disciple

May the Virgin of Pentecost obtain this for us through her intercession. By a unique vocation, she saw her Son Jesus "increase in wisdom and in stature, and in favor."(133) As He sat on her lap and later as He listened to her throughout the hidden life at Nazareth, this Son, who was "the only Son from the Father," "full of grace and truth," was formed by her in human knowledge of the Scriptures and of the history of God's plan for His people, and in adoration of the Father (134). She in turn was the first of His disciples. She was the first in time, because even when she found her adolescent Son in the temple she received from Him lessons that she kept in her heart.(135) She was the first disciple above all else because no one has been "taught by God"(136) to such depth. She was "both mother and disciple," as St. Augustine said of her, venturing to add that her discipleship was more important for her than her motherhood. There are good grounds for the statement made in the synod hall that Mary is "a living catechism" and "the mother and model of catechists” (CT 73).

--Consult the Word of the Week on informed for further reflection into how Mary is the living Catechism.

May the presence of the Holy Spirit, through the prayers of Mary, grant the Church unprecedented enthusiasm in the catechetical work that is essential for her. Thus will she effectively carry out, at this moment of grace, her inalienable and universal mission, the mission given her by her Teacher: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."(138)

133. Cf. Lk. 2:52; 134. Cf. Jn. 1:14; Heb. 10:5;135. Cf. Lk. 2:51; 136. Cf. Jn. 6:45; 138; Mt. 28:19.

XII. The Virgin Mary is acknowledged and honored as the mother of Christ and in turn the mother of the mystical body, the Church (CCC 963). Her mission of converting sinners back to Jesus Christ flows directly from the inseparable union she has with her Son (CCC 964). In the Vatican Constitution, Lumen Gentium, it is said of this great virgin-mother that “Mary, in a wholly and singular way cooperates in obedience, faith, hope and burning charity to restore supernatural life into souls to achieve the Savior's work. In this manner of speaking she is mother in the order of grace” (LG, 61). … Like all central mysteries of the Catholic faith the teaching and devotion to Mary started in seed form. These seeds are contained in Scripture as Mary is foreshadowed in the Old Testament and as she enters human history in the New Testament. The following are Old Testament typological examples:

1. Gen.3.15 ...“I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and hers. “ This is the Protoevangellion…the first gospel or good news. Right after the fall, Adam God guarantees the restoration of humankind through a woman.

a. Enmity means a complete and entire mutual opposition. Since the seed of the woman is Christ the redeemer, the Blessed Virgin Mary plays a unique role of opposition to Satan and sin.

2. Is.7.14... “The Lord will give you a sign. Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” Mary is the virgin prophesied here that would participate uniquely in salvation history. We see this in Matthew:

a. Mt.1.22... “Mary will bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus, for he will save the people from their sins...”

3. Other Old Testament types of Mary that illustrate the richness of Mary's role and intercession.

a. Gn.28.12...Jacob's ladder-where the angels used to ascend and descend with the intercessions of the people. This is seen as the future intercession of Mary.

b. Ex.3.1...Burning bush of Moses-holding the presence of God without corruption. The future motherhood of Mary as she holds Jesus without corruption.

c. 2 Samuel 6 and Luke 1...Mary as Ark of the New Covenant. There are some revealing parallels between David heading to Jerusalem just as Mary heads to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

4. 1 Kgs 1.19... Bathsheba as the mother of Solomon. The Mother of the king would receive the honor of Queen, because during the times of the Davidic reign, there were often concubines so to settle any ambiguity they gave the queenship to the mother of the King not the wife (cf. Jer.13.18; 2 Chr.15.16.

a. Everything went through the hands of the Mother in the Kingdom of David . There were no exceptions. The number one Job of the Queen Mother was to distribute Mercy in the Kingdom of David .

b. Es.4.16... In ancient antiquity, the role of the Queen Mother was seen in the Persian captivity with Esther (Mordecai and King Auserius). In Marian typology these figures bore witness to the word, Mary bears the word.

XVIII. Mary in the New Testament . The citations of Mary in the New Testament reveal the teachings of Mary as evolved over two thousand years. She is not seen more because it was pre-eminent that the message of redemption through Jesus Christ be delivered. I will emphasize the principle of mediation in each passage. Recall, that Mary's mediation is bound by intercession and in this same way we participate in the plan of redemption by interceding on behalf of the Kingdom of God !

1. Lk.1.26-38 (Annunciation). Our salvation began with the words “hail full of grace ” so it is right we pray these words for our own salvation.

a . She is a model in surrender and submission to God's will.

2. Lk.1.39-56 (Visitation). Mary brings her son with her whenever she is called upon in prayer.

a. Lk.1.48 (Magnificat)… “My soul magnifies the Lord.” We are called to pray these same words.

3. Lk.2.4-20 (Nativity). Mary brings forth our savior into human history. Mediating his presence!

4. Jn.2.1-11 (Wedding at Cana ). After Mary's request to “do whatever he tells you”, he performs the miraculous.

a. These are her last words, which mediate divinity.

b. “What have you to do with me?” This is an idiom-something that cannot be understood from its face value elements…not the literal.

a. Gn.23.15 Ephron and Abraham…common Hebrew and Greek idiom.

b. 1 Kgs.19-20...Elisha and Elijah.

5. Jn.19.25-27 (Mary at Calvary ). Jesus words “Woman behold your son, son behold your mother” reveals that she is to be our spiritual mother .

1. No mother being praised for her son's achievements in battle takes away from her son's achievements. Therefore, it is the same with Jesus and Mary.

2. Rev.12.17 and Gal.3.29...same Gk. Word used which means a spiritual maternity.

3. John's biological mother was at the cross. Why would Christ give John as our mother if it did not take on some cosmic significance? John was a writer that was always considering the bigger picture

6. Acts 1.13-2.4 (Mary in the Upper Room). Mary's presence is bringing down the spirit.

1. Nm. 11.24...elders bringing down the spirit.

2. 1 Kings 18.24...Elijah bringing down fire

3. Gn.11...Reverses the fortunes of the tower of Babel with the gift of tongues.

7. Rev.12.1 (Mary clothed with the sun)... “Mary is clothed with the sun with a moon under her feet and crowned with 12 stars.” Mary is clothes with the sun of her son and has the moon underneath her feet because she reflects her son without diminishing it.

1. Queenship in antiquity represents one fundamental action-mediation on behalf of her son. She is the queen mother!

2. Mary is depicted as being clothed with the host of heavens…sun, moon, and 12 stars. These hosts often set the compass to feast days in the Old Testament. Mary mediating the heavenly feast/banquet.

1. Gn.37.9...Joseph's dream involves the sun, moon, stars, the 12 brothers bowing down…prefigures Mary.