Before the great mystery of the Incarnation, Mary spoke her ‘yes’
and expressed her complete acceptance of God’s saving plan for mankind
"In stating her total 'yes' to the divine plan, Mary is
completely free before God. At the same time, she feels personally
responsible for humanity, whose future was linked with her reply",
the Holy Father said at the General Audience of Wednesday, 18 September,
as he examined the significance of Mary as the New Eve. Here is a
translation of the Pope's catechesis, which was given in Italian and was
the 33rd in the series on the Blessed Mother.
1. Commenting on the episode of the Annunciation, the Second Vatican
Council gives special emphasis to the value of Mary's assent to the
divine messenger's words. Unlike what occurs in similar biblical
accounts, it is expressly awaited by the angel: "The Father of
mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by assent on the
part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman had a share in
bringing about death, so also a woman should contribute to life" (Lumen
gentium, n. 56).
Lumen gentium recalls the contrast between Eve's behaviour and
that of Mary, described by St Irenaeus: "Just as the former—that
is, Eve—was seduced by the words of an angel so that she turned away
from God by disobeying his word, so the latter—Mary—received the
good news from an angel's announcement in such a way as to give birth to
God by obeying his word; and as the former was seduced so that she
disobeyed God, the latter let herself be convinced to obey God, and so
the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve. And as the human
race was subjected to death by a virgin, it was liberated by a Virgin; a
virgin's disobedience was thus counterbalanced by a Virgin's
obedience..." (Adv. Haer., V, 19, 1).
Mary co-operated through free faith and obedience
2. In stating her total "yes" to the divine plan, Mary is
completely free before God. At the same time, she feels personally
responsible for humanity, whose future was linked with her reply.
God puts the destiny of all mankind in a young woman's hands. Mary's
"yes" is the premise for fulfilling the plan which God
in his love had prepared for the world's salvation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church briefly and effectively
summarizes the decisive value for all humanity of Mary's free consent to
the divine plan of salvation. "The Virgin Mary 'cooperated through
free faith and obedience in human salvation'. She uttered her yes 'in
the name of all human nature'. By her obedience she became the New Eve,
mother of the living" (n. 511).
3. By her conduct, Mary reminds each of us of our serious
responsibility to accept God's plan for our lives. In total obedience to
the saving will of God expressed in the angel's words, she becomes a
model for those whom the Lord proclaims blessed, because they "hear
the word of God and keep it" (Lk 11:28). Jesus, in answering the
woman in the crowd who proclaimed his mother blessed, discloses the true
reason for Mary's blessedness: her adherence to God's will, which led
her to accept the divine motherhood.
In the Encyclical Redemptoris Mater, I pointed out that
the new spiritual motherhood of which Jesus speaks is primarily
concerned with her. Indeed, "Is not Mary the first of 'those who
hear the word of God and do it'? And therefore does not the blessing
uttered by Jesus in response to the woman in the crowd refer primarily
to her?" (n. 20). In a certain sense therefore Mary is proclaimed
the first disciple of her Son (cf. ibid.) and, by her example, invites
all believers to respond generously to the Lord's grace.
4. The Second Vatican Council explains Mary's total dedication to the
person and work of Christ: "She devoted herself totally, as a
handmaid of the Lord, to the person and work of her Son, under and with
him, serving the mystery of redemption, by the grace of almighty
God" (Lumen gentium, n. 56).
For Mary, dedication to the person and work of Jesus means intimate
union with her Son, motherly involvement in nurturing his human growth
and co-operation with his work of salvation.
Mary became cause of salvation for all humanity
Mary carries out this last aspect of her dedication to Jesus
"under him", that is, in a condition of subordination, which
is the fruit of grace. However this is true co-operation, because it is
realized "with him" and, beginning with the Annunciation, it
involves active participation in the work of redemption. "Rightly,
therefore", the Second Vatican Council observes, "the Fathers
see Mary not merely as passively engaged by God, but as freely
co-operating in the work of man's salvation through faith and obedience.
For, as St Irenaeus says, she 'being obedient, became the cause of
salvation for herself and for the whole human race (Adv. Haer.
III, 22, 4)’" (ibid.).
Mary, associated with Christ's victory over the sin of our first
parents, appears as the true "mother of the living" (ibid.).
Her motherhood, freely accepted in obedience to the divine plan, becomes
a source of life for all humanity.
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