Catechesi tradendae, n. 73 (1979) – full Latin text: Maria Mater et exemplar catechistarum

Number 73 of the Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae (John Paul II, October 16, 1979), on Mary as Mother and model of catechists, is one of the most important Mariological texts of the contemporary catechetical magisterium. Full Latin text in Enchiridion Vaticanum vol. 6 (1977-1979), paragraph 1939. This post complements the previous post with the full Latin text.

Full Latin text, n. 73 (Maria, Mater et exemplar discipulorum)

75. Quod utinam precibus suis impetret nobis Virgo Pentecostes! Ipsa enim singularem ob electionem inspectabat, dum filius “Iesus proficiebat sapientia et aetate et gratia”. In genibus eius positus ac deinde per totam absconditam in oppido Nazareth vitam, Filius ille, qui erat Unigenitus a Patre, plenus gratiae et veritatis, ab illa institutus est Scripturarum humana cognitione atque historia consilii divini de populo electo, Patrem adorando.

Prima ceterum fuit illius discipulorum: prima videlicet tempore, nam cum in Templo reperisset Filium suum puerum, ab eo doctrinas accepit, quas conservabat in corde suo, sed prima potissimum, quod nemo ut illa, ratione tam alta, “docibilis Dei” facta est. “Mater simul et discipula”: affirmat de ea sanctus Augustinus candideque addit plus esse Mariae, discipulam fuisse Christi, quam Matrem fuisse Christi.

Non sine causa in Aula Synodi vocata Maria est “catechismus vivus”, “catechistarum mater et exemplar”.

Utinam ergo, ipsa deprecante Maria, praesens Spiritus Sanctus concedat Ecclesiae maiorem quam umquam alias impetum catechetici operis, quod pernecessarium est illi! Tunc Ecclesia efficaciter hoc gratiae tempore perficiet mandatum irrevocabile atque universale suo a Magistro receptum: “Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes”.

Italian text (from the Enchiridion)

73. Che la Vergine della pentecoste ci ottenga tutto questo con la sua intercessione! Per una vocazione singolare, ella vide il Figlio Gesu “crescere in sapienza, eta e grazia”. Sulle sue ginocchia e poi ascoltandola, nel corso della vita nascosta di Nazaret, questo Figlio, che era l’Unigenito del Padre pieno di grazia e di verita, fu da lei formato alla conoscenza umana delle Scritture e della storia del disegno di Dio sul suo popolo, nell’adorazione del Padre.

Ella e stata, dall’altra parte, la prima dei suoi discepoli: prima nel tempo, perche gia ritrovandolo nel tempio ella riceve dal figlio adolescente lezioni, che conserva nel cuore, la prima soprattutto, perche nessuno fu mai “ammaestrato da Dio” ad un grado simile di profondita. Madre e discepola al tempo stesso, diceva di lei sant’Agostino, aggiungendo arditamente che l’esser discepola fu per lei piu importante che l’esser madre.

Non e senza ragione che nell’aula sinodale fu detto di Maria che e “un catechismo vivente”, “madre e modello dei catechisti”.

Full English translation

73. May the Virgin of Pentecost obtain all this for us by her intercession! By a singular vocation, she saw her Son Jesus “grow in wisdom, age, and grace”. On her lap and then listening to her, in the course of the hidden life at Nazareth, this Son, who was the Only-begotten of the Father full of grace and truth, was formed by her in the human knowledge of the Scriptures and of the history of God’s plan for His people, in the adoration of the Father.

She was, moreover, the first of His disciples: first in time, because already, finding Him in the Temple, she receives from her adolescent Son lessons that she keeps in her heart; the first above all, because no one was ever “taught by God” to so deep a degree. Mother and disciple at the same time, Saint Augustine said of her, boldly adding that being a disciple was for her more important than being a mother.

It is not without reason that in the synod hall it was said of Mary that she is “a living catechism”, “mother and model of catechists”.

May the presence of the Holy Spirit, with Mary’s prayer, grant the Church an unprecedented impetus in the catechetical work, which is essential to her. The Church will then effectively carry out, in this time of grace, the inalienable and universal mission received from her Master: “Go and teach all nations”.

The five central Mariological affirmations

N. 73 of Catechesi Tradendae makes five central affirmations about Mary:

1. Mary catechizes Christ: “In genibus eius positus… ab illa institutus est”, on Mary’s lap Christ was formed in the human knowledge of the Scriptures.
2. Mary is the first disciple: “Prima videlicet tempore” (the first in time) and “prima potissimum” (the first above all).
3. Mary is more disciple than mother (citing Saint Augustine): “Plus esse Mariae, discipulam fuisse Christi, quam Matrem fuisse Christi”.
4. Mary is a “living catechism”: “Catechismus vivus”, a formula born in the Synod Hall of 1977 and made official by this text.
5. Mary is “mother and model of catechists”: “Catechistarum mater et exemplar”, a formula that would be taken up in all later catechetical documents.

Origin of the formula “Catechismus vivus”

The expression “living catechism” (catechismus vivus) is singular and has no direct magisterial precedents. It arose in the Synod Hall of 1977 (Fourth Synod of Bishops on catechesis, presided over by Paul VI). Cardinal Bernardin Gantin (Benin) proposed it in a memorable intervention: “Mary does not merely have the catechism: Mary is the catechism”. The formula passed into Catechesi Tradendae as a magisterial synthesis.

Connection with later catechetical Mariology

The formula “catechistarum mater et exemplar” of Catechesi Tradendae became the reference for:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992): especially nn. 484-511.
• General Directory for Catechesis (1997-2020).
• Compendium of the CCC (Benedict XVI, 2005).
• Various Apostolic Letters on the formation of catechists.

Further reading

Catechesi Tradendae: summary post | Catechism of the Catholic Church | Redemptoris Mater | Marian Catecheses 1995-1997