WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACH ABOUT MARY,THE MOTHER OF JESUS?

The question is a pretty broad one, but let me start the dialogue by saying that everything that the Church teaches about Mary is only in direct relationship to Jesus. As Catholics we start with the question Christ asked Peter: Who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16).As we answer that question we begin to see that Jesus Christ is a Divine Person with two distinct natures (one Human another Divine).We believe the Eternal Word became incarnate in Mary’s womb from the moment of conception. Mary provided Christ’s humanity; the embryo in her womb was the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. For this reason, in order to protect Jesus’ Divinity at every step of the Incarnation, the Church ascribes Mary the title, “Mother of God” (Literally Theotokos meaning, “God bearer”). As we continue to explore the nature of the Incarnation, we understand that God intended to include man in His plan for Salvation. So as we are “In Christ”, we participate, in some capacity, in Christ’s redemption work. As St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians: 3:9 “We are co-workers with Christ for the sake of the Gospel”. To that end, Mary’s role in our Salvation is unique.We, that is: you and I, says Billy Graham, brings Jesus to the world by preaching the Gospel in word and deed. Mary actually brought Jesus into the world, so in that sense, her free will, “Yes” to God, became a secondary cause of our Salvation.Nevertheless, this was all a work of Grace. We don’t worship Mary! Mary is an Icon of what we as Christians ought to be. She symbolizes total surrender to God. We also believe that, just as you and I can pray for each other on earth, those in God’s presence can also pray; and pray all the more effectively, because their position allows them to pray in God’s perfect will.Therefore,we ask Mary and the Saints to pray for us.