Mary, type of the Church as Virgin and mother

Mary, type of the Church as Virgin and mother: symbol and model

By the gift and mission of the divine motherhood, which unites her to her Son the Redeemer, and by her singular graces and offices, the Virgin is also intimately bound to the Church: the Mother of God is the type and figure of the Church, in the order of faith, of charity, and of perfect union with Christ, as Saint Ambrose already taught. Indeed, in the mystery of the Church, which is also rightly called mother and virgin, the Blessed Virgin Mary went before, as the eminent and unique model of virgin and of mother. For, believing and obeying, she brought forth on earth, without having known man, by the work and grace of the Holy Spirit, the Son of the eternal Father. A new Eve, who believed without the slightest shadow of doubt, not the ancient serpent, but the heavenly messenger. And she gave birth to a Son, whom God established as the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29), that is, of the faithful, for whose generation and education she cooperates with a mother’s love. (Lumen Gentium, 63)

The Church, for her part, contemplating her mysterious holiness and imitating her charity, faithfully fulfilling the will of the Father, also becomes herself a mother by the faithful reception of the word of God: indeed, by preaching and by Baptism, she brings forth to new and immortal life the children conceived by the action of the Holy Spirit and born of God. And she too is a virgin, for she keeps total and pure fidelity to her Spouse and preserves virginally, in imitation of the Mother of her Lord and by the power of the Holy Spirit, an integral faith, a firm hope, and a true charity. (Lumen Gentium, 64)

To deepen the relationship between Mary and the Church, we recommend the encyclical Redemptoris Mater by John Paul II.

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