St. John Vianney Catholic Church
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
A Journey of Faith
RCIA
WEEK 15:
The Virgin Mary: Mother of God and Mother of the Church
Catechism
of the Catholic Church 508:
“From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the
Virgin Mary to be the mother of his Son. "Full of
grace," Mary is "the most excellent fruit of redemption": from
the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain
of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her
life.”
Catechism
of the Catholic Church 509:
“Mary is truly "Mother of God" since
she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church 510:
“Mary "remained a virgin in conceiving
her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in
nursing him at her breast, always a virgin" (St. Augustine): with her
whole being she is "the handmaid of the Lord" (Lk
1:38).”
Catechism
of the Catholic Church 511:
“The Virgin Mary "cooperated through free
faith and obedience in human salvation" (LG 56). She uttered her yes
"in the name of all human nature" (St. Thomas Aquinas). By her
obedience she became the new Eve, mother of the living.”
MEDITATION: Why is Mary’s Assumption into Heaven a source
of hope for Christians?
“Jesus on the Cross said
to the disciple whom He loved: “Behold your mother!” How sweet are those words to the Christian
who is able to understand what depths of love they contain!” -- St. John Vianney