TOPIC 9.

2
MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY
How it highlights Who Jesus is as Redeemer
and the welcome she gave him on our behalf
 The Privileges
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary Jesus: Perfect God A

is ever-virgin & Perfect Man New Adam

Church’s Virginal Virginal Motherhood Mary and the To be a True Child

Motherhood of Mary Mother Church of Mary
 Mary is perpetual,
ever-virgin
virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus

a mystery inseparably connected with

◦ the person of Christ
and his redemptive mission

◦ the welcome Mary gave that mission

on behalf of all men

◦ and her role as Mother of the Church

 Jesus’ Identity:
Perfect God
& Perfect Man
Mary conceives Jesus
“by the power of the Holy Spirit”

◦ Jesus has only God as Father,

in his divine and human natures
◦ he was not estranged from the Father
because of his human nature
◦ he is naturally Son of the Father
as to his divinity
◦ and naturally son of Mary as to his humanity
◦ but properly Son of the Father in both natures
 A New Adam,
a new birth,
a new creation
The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became
a living soul;
but the last Adam
has become a life-giving spirit.
1 Cor 15:45
 A New Adam,
a new birth,
a new creation
Jesus as perfect man

◦ Christ’s Humanity is filled with the Holy Spirit so that “from his fullness we
may all receive, grace upon grace” (Jn 1:16; Col 1:18)

◦ he ushers in the new birth of children

sharing in Life in the Spirit
through faith in the name of Jesus (Jn 1:12)

◦ acceptance of this life is virginal

because it arises “not of blood nor of the will
of the flesh, but of God”, entirely a gift of the Spirit
 The
Virginal Motherhood
of the Church
“No one can have God for his Father,
who does not have the Church for his Mother.”
S. Cyprian (died 258)

◦ Jesus gives himself in the Spirit totally to his Bride the Church

◦ as Bride, the Church gives Herself to Christ by Her total openness to the Gift
of the Spirit offered through God’s word.

◦ By receiving the word of God in faith, the Church

becomes a mother” (CCC 507). “Obedience of faith”
as the hallmark of the faithful Bride.

◦ it is in the ”womb of Mother Church”

(Her faith, Her life and teachings, Her worship)
that we are born and nourished in Life in the Spirit
 I tell you solemnly,
anyone
who does not
welcome
the kingdom of God
like a little child
will never enter it.
Mk 10:15
 The Virginal Motherhood of
Mary
Mary’s virginity is the sign of the integrity of her faith
(CCC 506)

◦ trusting, operative, totally open to the action of the Holy Spirit: an “obedience of
faith”
(Rom 1:5; 16:26)

◦ „Blessed is she who has believed, because the things promised her by the Lord shall
be accomplished”
(Lk 1:45).

◦ she carries Jesus in her heart even before conceiving him in her womb.

◦ faith enables her to become the mother of the Savior.

(Mt 12:50)
 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly
as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah.

She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt

in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most
blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my

Lord?

For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my

womb leapt for joy.

Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by
the Lord would be fulfilled.’

Lk 1:39-45
 Mary, the most perfect
realization
of Mother Church
Mary’s virginal motherhood
and her role as mother of Christ
◦ “Woman, behold your son”....
”Behold your mother”
(Jn 19: 26-27)

◦ all the graces Jesus won for us on the Cross

are lavished on Mary; she, in turn,
communicates them to us
(Gal 4:4)

◦ Mary, the Mediatrix of all graces.

◦ the All-power Supplicant:

(Jn 2:1-11)
Then the sanctuary of God in heaven opened
and the ark of the covenant could be seen
inside it. Then came flashes of lightning,
peals of thunder and an earthquake,
and violent hail.
Rev 11:19

Now a great sign appeared in heaven:

a woman, adorned with the sun,
standing on the moon,
and with the twelve stars on her head
for a crown.
She was pregnant, and in labour,
crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth.
Then a second sign appeared in the sky,
a huge red dragon which had seven heads
and ten horns, and each of the seven heads
crowned with a coronet.
Rev 12:1-3
To be a true child of
Mary
. Entering into Mary’s fiat.
Lk 1:38
◦ total openness to the light and inspirations
of the Spirit.
Lk 1:39-45.
◦ a “Yes” unhindered by the slightest sin, inspired by the
fullness of grace, lived in the greatest freedom
◦ inner attitude of attentive, devout listening to God’s word.
Lk 2:19.51.
◦ Bethlehem, Egypt, Nazareth. God is found in the ordinary.
◦ her spiritual combat against Satan.
Gen 3:15. Rev 12:3
◦ entering into Mary’s hope. Seeking God in the
uncertainties of life. In pain, sorrow and death.
◦ entering into the glories of Mary.
 TOPIC 9.2
MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY
How it highlights Who Jesus is as Redeemer
and the welcome she gave him on our behalf