The Blessed Virgin held fast, wholly and completely, to revealed Truth
and through her intercession the Church herself will continue to do the
same
"Having fully adhered to the Word of the Lord, Mary represents
for the Church an unsurpassable model of 'virginally integral’ faith,
for with docility and perseverance she accepts the revealed Truth whole
and entire", the Holy Father said at the General Audience of
Wednesday, 20 August, as he reflected on Mary's virginity as a model for
the Church. Here is a translation of his catechesis, which was the 60th
in the series on the Blessed Mother and was given in Italian.
1. The Church is a mother and virgin. After affirming that she is a
mother, modeled on Mary, the Council gives her the title of virgin,
explaining its significance: "She herself is a virgin, who keeps in
its entirety and purity the faith she pledged to her spouse. Imitating
the Mother of her Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, she
preserves with virginal purity an integral faith, firm hope and sincere
charity" (Lumen gentium, n. 64).
Thus Mary is also a model of the Church's virginity. In this regard,
it is necessary to explain that virginity does not belong to the Church
in the strict sense, since it does not represent the state of life of
the vast majority of the faithful. Indeed, by virtue of God's
providential plan, marriage is the most widespread and, we could say,
common state for those called to the faith. The gift of virginity is
reserved to a limited number of the faithful, who are called to a
particular mission within the ecclesial community.
Mary's virginity has beneficial influence on the Church
Nevertheless, in mentioning St Augustine's teaching, the Council
maintains that the Church is virginal in the spiritual sense of
integrity in faith, hope and charity. Therefore, the Church is not a
virgin in the body of all her members, but possesses a virginity of the
spirit (virginitas mentis), that is, "integral faith, firm
hope and sincere charity" (In Io. Tr., 13, 12; PL
35, 1499).
2. The Constitution Lumen gentium therefore takes pains to
recall that Mary's virginity, a model for that of the Church, also
includes the physical dimension, by which she virginally conceived Jesus
by the power of the Holy Spirit without man's intervention.
Mary is a virgin in body and a virgin in heart, as appears from her
intention to live in deep intimacy with the Lord, decisively manifested
at the time of the Annunciation. Thus she who is invoked as virgin or
virgins" is without doubt for every one a very lofty example of
purity and of total self-giving to the Lord. But she is a special source
of inspiration for Christian virgins and for those who are radically and
exclusively dedicated to the Lord in the various forms of consecrated
life.
Thus after its important role in the work of salvation, Mary's
virginity continues to have a beneficial influence on the Church's life.
3. Let us not forget that Christ is certainly the first and highest
example for every chaste life. However Mary is a special model of
chastity lived for love of the Lord Jesus. She encourages all Christians
to live chastity with particular commitment according to their own
state, and to entrust themselves to the Lord in the different
circumstances of life. She who is the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit par
excellence helps believers rediscover their own body as the temple
of God (cf. 1 Cor 6:19) and to respect its nobility and holiness. Young
people seeking genuine love look to the Blessed Virgin and invoke her
motherly help to persevere in purity. Mary reminds married couples of
the fundamental values of marriage by helping them overcome the
temptation to discouragement and to subdue the passions that try to sway
their hearts. Her total dedication to God is a strong encouragement to
them to live in mutual fidelity, so that they will never give in to the
difficulties that beset conjugal communion.
4. The Council urges the faithful to look to Mary so that they may
imitate her "virginally integral" faith, hope and charity.
Mary accepted revealed truth with docility
To preserve the integrity of the faith is a demanding task for the
Church, which is called to constant vigilance even at the cost of
sacrifice and struggle. In fact, the Church's faith is not only
threatened by those who reject the Gospel message, but especially by
those who, in accepting only part of the revealed truth, refuse to share
fully in the entire patrimony of the faith of Christ's Bride.
Unfortunately, this temptation, which we find from the Church's very
beginning, continues to be present in her life, urging her to accept
Revelation only in part, or to give the Word of God a limited, personal
interpretation in conformity with the prevailing mentality and
individual desires. Having fully adhered to the Word of the Lord, Mary
represents for the Church an unsurpassable model of "virginally
integral" faith, for with docility and perseverance she accepts the
revealed Truth whole and entire. And by her constant intercession, she
obtains for the Church the light of hope and the flame of charity,
virtues of which, in her earthly life, she was an incomparable example
for everyone.
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