Week 21: Passages 954 - 991

Passages 954- 991



II. The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth
Some pilgrims are still on earth, others have died and are being purified, while others are in glory. Those in heaven intercede for us.

“Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole
Church more firmly in holiness…They do not cease to intercede with the Father
for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one
mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus…So by their fraternal concern is our
weakness greatly helped.” (CCC 956)

Just as communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ so does our communion with the saints. Our prayer is capable of helping the dead and allowing them to intercede for us.



Paragraph 6. Mary – Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church
I. Mary’s Motherhood with Regard to the Church
Mary’s role in the Church flows from her union with Christ. She was united with her son from his virginal conception to the hour of his Passion, and after his Ascension aided the beginnings of the Church with her prayers. Her Assumption is a unique participation I her son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.
The Virgin Mary, by her obedience to the Father’s will, his Son’s redemptive work, and every prompting of the Spirit is the Church’s model of faith and charity.
Her singular obedience, faith, hope and charity makes her our mother in the order of grace.

"This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from
the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she
sustained
without wavering beneath the cross, until eternal fulfillment of
all the elect.
Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office
but by her manifold
intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal
salvation…Therefore the
Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the
titles of Advocate, Helper,
Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” (CCC
969)
“Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this
unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power.” (CCC 970)

II. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

“’All generations will call me blessed’: ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed
Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’” (CCC 971)
“’….This very special
devotion…differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate
Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this
adoration.’” (CCC 971)

The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayers such as the Rosary express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.
III. Mary – Eschatological Icon of the Church
In Mary we can contemplate the mystery of what the Church is on her pilgrimage of faith and what she will be at the end of the journey.

“In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body
and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be
perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth, until
the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the
pilgrim people of God.” (CCC 972)

Article 10 “I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins”
I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins
Baptism is the first sacrament of forgiveness of sins. Baptism cleanses us, but we still have an inclination towards evil that we must battle. So the Church gives us another sacrament to forgive sins up to our deaths, the sacrament of Penance.
II. The Power of the Keys
Christ sent his apostles “so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.” (CCC 981)

“The Church has received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven so that, in her, sins
may be forgiven through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit’s action. In this
Church, the soul dead through sin comes back to life in order to live with
Christ, whose grace has saved us.” (CCC 981)

There is no offense too serious to be forgiven, Christ died for all men.



Article 11 “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body”


We believe that just as Christ rose from the dead and lives forever, we will be resurrected (both our soul and mortal body) on the last day. This has been a Christian belief from the beginning.





Questions for Reflection:

• In what ways do you ask the saints to intercede for you? How can we teach our children about the saints? For a fun craft, check out the spoon saints at Cottage Blessings.

• Do you pray for the dead? It seems to me I once saw a great idea for making an All Souls Day banner with reminders to pray for deceased friends and relatives, but I can't remember where.

• Which are your favorite Marian devotions? How can we introduce these to our children? Meredith at Sweetness and Light has tons of ideas for Marian devotions for children. In our house our Rosary box has been a big hit and an aid to reflecting on the mysteries of the Rosary.