Early witnesses: After the completion of the New Testament, the Christian communities speak often of Mary with honour:

• Ignatius of Antioch (martyred about 110) emphasizes that Jesus is the Son of God, and is born from a virgin: his birth from Mary shows that he is truly human.
• Justin (martyred about 165) speaks of Mary as the new Eve: her belief and obedience are the opposite of Eve’s behaviour.
• Irenaeus, in the late second century, teaches that Mary is the mother of renewed humanity. (See Rom. 5.15 19.)
• In the late second century, Mary is seen as a symbol of the Church. By the early 200s, Hippolytus refers to Mary as the holy virgin. In 391, a synod at Milan refers to her as always a virgin.
• Early ecumenical Councils witness to the faith of the Church: Christ is born of the virgin Mary (Constantinople I, 381); the virgin Mary is the God bearer or Mother of God (Ephesus, 431; Chalcedon, 451 ).

The middle ages witnessed an explosion of love and devotion to the Mother of God. Almost every cathedral in Europe was dedicated to her.

Modern devotion: In 1854 Pius IX declared Mary to be free from all sin (Immaculate Conception) by the merits of Christ. In Canada, 14 dioceses hold her as Patron under this title. In 1950, Pius XII declared her bodily Assumption as sharing completely in the resurrection of her Son; 7 dioceses in Canada honour her as Patron under that title.

The Church invites us to base our devotion to Mary on the scriptures that speak of her and of her relation to Jesus. Our prayer—with Mary and to Mary—leads us to a deeper sharing in the liturgy, the worship Jesus gives to the Father, the worship we give to God in his name. Our devotion to Mary leads us to love God as she did: as the mother of Jesus, as the first to believe in him, his first disciple. She is inseparably linked to the saving activity of Jesus, her Son.

A model for the Church: The Second Vatican Council describes Mary and her role from the scriptures and Catholic tradition. Mary is a model for the Church and for individual Christians. What God has done in Mary he also does in us.

• Chosen by God. The Father chose Mary to be the mother of his Son. He chooses each of us to carry out a unique vocation on earth, within his beloved Church.
• Gifted with faith. The Father endowed Mary with special gifts of grace from the moment of her conception. He gives each of us grace and faith at the time of our baptism, and continues to give us gifts to work for building up his Church.
• Called to obedience. Mary was invited to obey God’s will for her in her daily life. Jesus Christ also came to do the Father’s will. We too — as Church and as individuals — are called to obey the will of the Father each day.
• Rewarded in heaven. At the end of her life on earth, Mary was raised, body and soul, to share in the eternal life of her Son. At the end of time, with the resurrection of the faithful, the entire Church in heaven will be together with Christ and Mary, singing the unending praises of the Father.

Vatican II: The Council linked Mary to the Church, saying that “in her, the Church admires and extols this exceptional result of the redemption and joyfully contemplates what is, as it were, a totally undistorted picture of its desires and hopes for itself as a whole.”

Devotion to Mary: Pope Paul VI reminded us that “the ultimate purpose of devotion to the Blessed Virgin is to glorify God and lead Christians to commit themselves to a life which is in absolute conformity to his will”. We continue to follow Christ as Mary did: hearing the word of God, keeping it in our hearts and doing the will of the Father. Jesus tells us that we are his friends when we do what he commands us; Mary’s life is example of the fulfilment of that command.

All glory is yours, almighty Father: 
you have given us your Son to save us.
We praise you
for choosing Mary to be his mother,
for teaching her to believe your message,
for helping her to accept your holy will.

Strengthen us by your Spirit to be like Mary:
to ponder your word in our hearts,
to obey your will,
to love your Son,
to sing your praises each day.

Father,
we praise you through Jesus your Son
in the love of your Spirit,
for ever and ever. Amen!

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us.