John Paul II – Catechesi tradendae, n. 73: Mary, mother and model of catechists

The Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae (October 16, 1979) was the first major magisterial document of the pontificate of Saint John Paul II, published one year after his election. On catechesis in our time, it contains a final section dedicated to Mary as “Mother and model of the catechist” (n. 73), which became a point of reference for all post-conciliar catechetical ministry.

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

“Beatissima Virgo Maria fuit, est et erit prima “catequista” quia Verbum filii sui suae Ecclesiae communicavit. Sicut Gabriel angelus ipsi mysterium incarnationis communicavit, eaque cum Verbo personali Dei facto homine, ita Maria nostrum primum imitamen est: ipsa enim docuit Iesum a infantia, eumque servans, formavit eius corpus humanum, et ipsa eum “catechizavit” quasi mater”

The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, is, and will be the first “catechist” because she communicated the Word of her Son to His Church. Just as the angel Gabriel communicated to her the mystery of the incarnation, and she with the personal Word of God made man, so Mary is our first model: she taught Jesus from infancy, keeping Him, formed His human body, and she herself “catechized” Him as a mother.

The three levels of Mary’s catechetical motherhood

John Paul II developed three levels of Mary’s catechetical motherhood:

1. Mary, catechist of Jesus

The first catechesis of humanity was not given by Christ to others, but to Christ by His mother. Mary taught Jesus the reading of the Hebrew Torah, the rites of the temple, the feasts of Israel. The whole humanity of Christ was formed by Marian catechesis.

2. Mary, catechist of the Apostles

After the Resurrection, Mary was in the Upper Room with the Apostles (Acts 1:14). It is plausible, as the earliest traditions attest, that she filled in for the Apostles the details of the life of Jesus that she alone knew (the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the life in Nazareth). The first “infancy gospels” have a Marian source.

3. Mary, catechist of the Church

Mary continues to be the catechist of the Church through her maternal mediation. Each time the Church meditates on the Marian mysteries (the Incarnation, the Visitation, etc.), she learns from Mary the integral truth about Christ.

The Magnificat as catechesis

“In Magnificat Maria docet nos quomodo legendae sint magnae operationes Dei in historia hominum: secundum praeceptum “exaltavit humiles” (Lk 1:52). Magnificat est primum vere catechesim Christianum, in eo Maria nobis exhibit quomodo recte historia salutis legenda sit”

In the Magnificat, Mary teaches us how the great works of God in the history of men are to be read: according to the precept “exaltavit humiles” (Lk 1:52). The Magnificat is the first truly Christian catechesis; in it Mary shows us how the history of salvation is to be read correctly.

Pastoral implications

John Paul II’s text has profound implications for catechetical ministry:

1. Marian devotion of catechists: Every catechist must cultivate a profound Marian devotion
2. Mother catechist: Mary’s spiritual motherhood extends to every catechetical activity
3. Marian mysteries in catechesis: Catechesis must include the Marian mysteries in an integrated way, not as an appendix
4. The Magnificat as model: Catechesis must follow the rhythm of the Magnificat: recognition of the wonders of God, joy, mission

Connection with the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The catechetical theology of Catechesi Tradendae would be applied directly in the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), whose Marian sections are a perfect example of the Marian catechesis proposed in 1979.

Further reading

Mariology | Redemptoris Mater | Catechism, Marian Sections | Marialis Cultus