Paul VI – Proclamation of Mary, Mother of the Church (November 21, 1964)

On November 21, 1964, at the closing session of the third period of the Second Vatican Council, one of the most significant dates in Marian theology of the Council occurs. Immediately after promulgating the Dogmatic Constitution *Lumen Gentium* (Chapter VIII of which is dedicated to Mary), Pope Paul VI solemnly proclaimed the Most Holy Mary as *”Mater Ecclesiae”*, Mother of the Church. This is one of the few new Marian titles solemnly proclaimed by a Pope in the 20th century.Collection: Enchiridion Vaticanum, vol. 1, paragraphs 305*-312* Pope: Blessed Paul VI Date: November 21, 1964 (closing of the III period of Vatican II) Act: Solemn proclamation of Mary as Mater EcclesiaeContext: The scheme “De Beata Maria virgine”During the Second Vatican Council, intense debate arose over how to treat Mary. Two positions clashed:– “Christotypical” position (minority): Mary should have a separate conciliar document due to her uniqueness and closeness to Christ. – “Eclesiotypical” position (majority): Mary should be integrated into the document on the Church (*Lumen Gentium*), as her motherhood is inseparable from the Church.In a close vote on October 29, 1963, the integration of Mary into *Lumen Gentium* prevailed by 1114 votes to 1074. Pope Paul VI, feeling that the Christotypical position had not been sufficiently honored, made it a point, at the time of promulgating *Lumen Gentium*, to publicly proclaim the title *Mater Ecclesiae* to honor both the ecclesiastical integration and the Marian uniqueness.Original Italian Text, Speech of November 21, 1964> *n. 305*, The reflection on these close relations of Mary with the Church, so clearly established by the present Conciliar Constitution, leads us to consider this the most solemn and appropriate moment to fulfill a promise that, having been suggested by Us at the end of the preceding conciliar period, was made their own by numerous Conciliar Fathers, requesting an explicit declaration, during this Council, of the maternal function that the Virgin exercises over the Christian people.For the glory of the Virgin and for our comfort, we therefore proclaim the Most Holy Mary “Mother of the Church,” that is, of all the people of God, both of the faithful and of the Pastors, who call her most loving Mother, and we wish that henceforth with this most tender title the Virgin be honored and invoked even more by all the Christian people.The reflection on these close relations of Mary with the Church, so clearly established by the present Conciliar Constitution, leads us to consider this the most solemn and most appropriate moment to fulfill a vow which, having been suggested by us at the end of the preceding conciliar period, was adopted by many Conciliar Fathers, asking for an explicit declaration, during this Council, of the maternal function which the Virgin exercises over the Christian people.As indeed the divine motherhood is the foundation of the special relation with Christ and of His presence in the economy of salvation operated by Jesus Christ, so also it constitutes the principal foundation of Mary’s relations with the Church, being Mother of Him who from the first instant of the Incarnation in her virgin womb united to Himself as Head His Mystical Body which is the Church. Mary, therefore, as Mother of Christ, is also Mother of the faithful and of all the Pastors, that is, of the Church.English:Because divine motherhood is the foundation of the special relationship with Christ and His presence in the economy of salvation accomplished by Christ Jesus, it also constitutes the principal foundation of Mary’s relations with the Church, being Mary the Mother of Him who, from the first moment of the Incarnation in her virgin womb, united to Himself as Head His Mystical Body, which is the Church. Mary, therefore, as Mother of Christ, is also Mother of all the faithful and Pastors, that is, of the Church.As we entered the conciliar session at the invitation of Pope John XXIII on October 11, 1962, together «cum Maria, Matre Iesu» (with Mary, Mother of Jesus), so at the end of the third period, we left this same temple in the most holy and sweet name of Mary, Mother of the Church.In sign of gratitude for her loving assistance during this last conciliar period, each of you, venerable Brothers, commit yourselves to keep high among the Christian people the name and honor of Mary, to point to her as the model of faith and of full correspondence to every call of God, the model of full assimilation of Christ’s teaching and of His charity, so that all the faithful, united in the common Mother’s name, may always be stronger in faith and adherence to Jesus Christ, and together fervent in charity towards their brothers.Historical Meaning:The proclamation of the title Mater Ecclesiae (Mother of the Church) has multiple historical meanings:– Conclusion of the Christological/Ecclesiological debate: The two mariological perspectives are synthesized. Mary is Mother of Christ (christotypic) and Mother of the Church (ecclesiotypic) at the same time. – Continuity with tradition: Paul VI emphasizes that the title is not new, but it was always used by the Christian people, now becoming a magisterially proclaimed title. – Inauguration of conciliar mariology: From this proclamation, post-conciliar mariology will have the title Mater Ecclesiae as its central axis. – Liturgical feast: On February 11, 2018, Pope Francis instituted the obligatory memorial of «Maria, Mother of the Church»** on the Tuesday after Pentecost, liturgically concretizing what Paul VI proclaimed in 1964.Connection with Lumen Gentium VIIIThe title Mater Ecclesiae is the conclusive synthesis of Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium. The joint reading of these two documents, the Dogmatic Constitution and its oral proclamation by the Pope, is the fundamental hermeneutical key to conciliar mariology.Complementary ReadingLumen Gentium, Chapter VIII | Marialis Cultus | Redemptoris Mater | Signum Magnum | Enchiridion Vaticanum (Index)