Mary, A Sacrament For The Church

The Catholic Church is fundamentally a sacramental Church in the truest sense of the word. Not only in the sense that she is built upon the seven sacraments themselves but in the sense that she is in and of herself a sacramental reality: a visible, material sign of an invisible, spiritual reality that makes Christ present in the world. The Church in the world is a visible sign of the invisible reality that is the Body of Christ where the faithful are united to Christ the head in their respective roles in the Church Triumphant, Suffering and Militant. This same truth also applies to Our Blessed Mother, the most perfect member of the Church. The saints frequently describe Our Lady as a type of the Church. They say what is said of the Church can also be said of Mary. Therefore, in the same way, we can say that Mary’s life is a sacramental reality, a visible sign of an invisible reality that makes Christ present in the world. 

The Sacred Scriptures also refer to Our Lady as a sign, “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed in the sun with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev 12:1). As a sign Mary’s life is fundamentally sacramental: a material, historical reality that points towards a spiritual truth that is essential for life on earth. However, it also points to a deeper reality that will not be fully realized in this world. This is echoed in The Catechism of the Catholic Church when it refers to Mary as the “Eschatological Icon of the Church…in Her we contemplate what the Church already is in her mystery on her own ‘pilgrimage of faith,’ and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey (CCC 972).” Mary is both a type of the Church and the preeminent member of the Church. As the first of all believers she has followed in the sacred footsteps of Her Son showing the path that we are called to tread as members of the same Church. The real historical events of the Virgin’s life shine forth with sacred truth that is essential for us who are still treading through this vale of tears. This truth of Our Lady as a sacramental sign can be seen most clearly in three of the main feasts that we celebrate of Her life: the Annunciation, Visitation, and the Assumption. 

In the Annunciation, the Church celebrates Mary’s fiat, Her total obedience to the will of God that brought God in the flesh into the world. In Mary’s uniformity to God’s will, Her humble joining of Her will and Her entire life to the saving plan of God, we see the obedience and trust we are called to exhibit in our own lives. In this mystery She becomes the model of faith, trust, and obedience for the Church. As She perfectly unites Herself with God’s will, She also foreshadows the perfect union of wills that will exist in Heaven–that union that we pray for each day when we say, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

The Gospel’s recounting of the Visitation centers and focuses on the Blessed Virgin’s great hymn of praise, the Magnificat. In the Magnificat, Mary recounts the blessings God has done in Her life and turns it all back to Him, stating, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” (Lk 1:46). This unassuming canticle shows us the attitude of praise that we are called to profess in the face of God’s countless blessings in our lives. Rather than attributing our blessings to our own efforts, like Mary we are called to recognize that all that we have comes from God and our gratitude flows over as we celebrate God’s goodness and mercy. This selfless praise is characteristic of the hymns sung by the Hosts of Heaven where, in the enjoyment of the Beatific Vision, our personal glory will all return to magnify the glory of God who is our light.

 Finally, in the great mystery of the Assumption the Church commemorates Mary’s triumph over death, Her sharing in the first fruits of Her Son’s Resurrection. For the Church Militant still upon earth, Her Assumption to heavenly glory is a symbol of hope that tells us that death is not the end, there is a life that will continue beyond death. Yet in an eschatological sense, the Assumption directs our gaze towards the final Resurrection into everlasting life that the Church is called to experience in her eternal homeland. 

In all these mysteries, Mary precedes us; She is the first fruits of the Church following in the footsteps of Her Beloved Son. As She went first in faith as the New Eve, the mother of the New Creation, so She goes first in the fulfillment of the mysteries experienced in Christ.

 In Her life, She is more than just an abstract sign of a reality yet to be realized; She is the example and the model of how the Church can attain these mysteries. Her life is accentuated by the union of Her will with the Divine Will, a union that always flows from and proceeds to the Cross. Mary’s life was made for the Cross and all Her grace flows from the Cross. The Cross is truly the center of Her life and the source of all Her blessings. And it was there that She joined totally with Her Son, offering Herself with Him. United in spirit, She descended with Him into the depths of spiritual suffering and with Him was raised to new heights of glory at His glorious Resurrection. As the Church of Christ, Mary’s children in faith, our glorification can only come about in the same way: the joining of our lives with Christ’s Cross, an offering of our wills in sacrifice to the Father with Him and in Him to be raised on the last day. 

Let each one of us turn then and walk with Mary. Let our life be lived with Mary, journeying alongside Her, so that we can realize the truth She leads us towards. In the Mass we receive Christ into our hearts. Joined with Our Mother, let us receive Him with the love and attention with which Mary welcomed Him into Her womb. With Her let us say, “let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). With Her let us join our wills with His so that we can truly make Christ present in this world. Let us stand with Her at the foot of the Cross united with Christ in His suffering and death. Then, with Her we can be raised by God into that blessed realm where, with the Church Triumphant, we will proclaim His praises for all eternity.

O Light that shines through shadows harsh

O Icon of the world to come

O Mother of the pilgrim parched

O Star that guides the weary home.