Lumen Gentium Chapter 8

Read Lumen Gentium

1. Why is Mary worthy of reverence?
2. Summarize Mary’s role in the “economy of salvation,” including the excerpts from Sacred Scripture that youconsider most essential to a full understanding of that role.
3. Summarize Mary’s role in the “economy of salvation,” including the excerpts from Sacred Scripture that youconsider most essential to a full understanding of that role.
4. Explain what the Church Fathers mean when they call Mary the “New Eve.”
5. In what ways does the Church emulate Mary, especially as mother and virgin?
6. What is Mary’s relationship to the Church now? What does she do for us?
7. Explain what would constitute proper and improper veneration of Mary.
8. How would you answer the objection toward praying to Mary that Christ is the only Mediator between Godand man?
   

Apparently, one of the debates at the Second Vatican Council (I would love to verify this) was whether to write a separate document about Mary or to include a discussion about Mary within the document on the Church. Why would the Council choose to stuff such a grand subject into a single chapter of a document? Actually, the position of this chapter on Mary says as much as a separate document could about her place in the “economy of salvation.”

The term “economy of salvation” refers to the way that Jesus Christ paid for our sins, and in turn how we receive the grace He purchased for us. Of course, Mary plays a central role in Christ’s payment for our sin. Her fiat made Christ’s incarnation possible. She lived through His public ministry as a faithful disciple. She stood at the foot of His cross, suffering a broken mother’s heart as she watched her son die a horrible death. She was present at His Resurrection and again when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. Mary truly participated in the saving act of her son.

That’s precisely the point. From the moment of Creation, God intended human beings to participate in His divine life. He invited Adam & Eve to cultivate the garden and to name the animals, not because He needed the help, but because in doing so they could participate in His divine act of Creation. Throughout salvation history, God invited individuals to participate in His power of salvation. Through Noah, God saved the world from destruction brought to the world by sin and punishment. Through Abraham, God instituted the Hebrew people as the People of God. Through Moses God saved the Hebrew people from slavery and gave then His Divine Law. Through King David and King Solomon, God brought an entire kingdom into His loving care. Finally, through Mary God came into the world to consummate His love with His people. He called His apostles to carry on His work after He was gone. However, Mary’s role was not done.

You see, in the course of salvation history special roles were created in preparation for the completion of salvation in Christ. One of these roles was that of Steward of the Kingdom, the one who received the keys of the kingdom and with them the power to “loose or retain.” Another key role was that of the Queen Mother. The mother of the king held a place of special honor and of unique privilege. Bathsheba held this role and had great influence over he son Solomon. Mary’s privileged position is made known at the wedding feast at Cana when she asks Jesus to help the groom who ran out of wine early in the celebration. It is verified in Revelation when Mary appears wearing a crown of seven stars.

What does Mary’s role as Queen Mother have to do with her role in the Church? Both the Church and Mary are called mothers. They both receive the grace of God and nurture it in the hearts of believers. They both care for the adopted sons and daughters of God. They both shelter Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity. Additionally, the Church can be viewed as a virgin, as Mary is. Scripture describes the Church as the pure bride waiting for her beloved Bridegroom. Her purity is expressed in her fidelity to Christ, in the purity of her doctrine, and in the grace that flows through her especially in the Sacraments. The relationship between Mary and the Church is more than just allegorical, however. Mary is the mother of the Church because she is the mother of Christ. As the first recipient of the perfecting power of grace, she is our forerunner and leader. Her participation in God’s plan of salvation and in Christ’s life reveals how she was called to participate in God’s Divine Life. This participation is the very participation we are called to live. However, her unique position as Queen Mother means that her participation also allows her to give to us the grace of her son. So, the Church participates in the distribution of the grace of Christ through the participation of Mary in the Divine Life.

Why would God choose to involve Mary, a simple human being, so intimately? This is the way God works. He wants us all to participate in His divine life. He invites us all to pray for each other. He invites us to pray for the souls in purgatory. He invites the saints to pray for the Church Militant on earth. What is praying for each other if it is not a participation in the distribution of the grace of Christ? This is a great intimacy with God, and a great honor for us. We would be unable to conceive of such an honor if it had not been given to Mary first. Mary leads the way and we follow her to the heart of Christ.

In the end, the Council made the right decision. By uniting their statement of Mary to the document on the Church, they remind us all of the intimate connection between Christ and the Church and the incredible intimacy to God that they promise us.