Friday, January 29, 2016

Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 117 - Part II.




YOUCAT Question n. 117 - Part II. How could the Holy Spirit work in, with, and through Mary?


(Youcat answer - repeated) Mary was totally responsive and open to God (Lk 1:38). Thus she was able to become the “Mother of God” through the working of the Holy Spiritand as Christ’s Mother to become also the Mother of Christians, indeed, the Mother of all mankind.            

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 722) The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9) should herself be "full of grace." She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most humble of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of the Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the "Daughter of Zion": "Rejoice" (Cf. Zeph 3:14; Zech 2:14). It is the thanksgiving of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle (Cf. Lk 1:46-55) lifts up to the Father in the Holy Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.   

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Mary made it possible for the Holy Spirit to work the miracle of all miracles: the Incarnation of God. She gave God her Yes: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, she went with Jesus through thick and thin, even to the foot of the Cross. There Jesus gave her to us all as our Mother (Jn 19:25-27).   

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 712) The characteristics of the awaited Messiah begin to appear in the "Book of Emmanuel" ("Isaiah said this when he saw his glory" (Jn 12:41; cf. Isa 6-12), speaking of Christ), especially in the first two verses of Isaiah 11 (Isa 11:1-2): There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots, and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD (Isa 11:1-2).      

(This question: How could the Holy Spirit work in, with, and through Mary? is continued)

No comments: