Mary, Mother of The Church

Mary, Mother of The Church Indeed, the reality of the Church is not limited to its hierarchical structure, liturgy, sacraments, and legal statutes. We must seek her very essence and the primary source of her sanctifying efficacy in her mystical union with Christ. We cannot conceive of this union by ignoring the one who is the Mother of the Word and whom Jesus Christ wanted to unite so intimately to himself for our salvation. This is why the loving contemplation of the wonders that God operated in his holy Mother must be seen within the vision of the Church. And the knowledge of the true Catholic doctrine on Mary will always constitute a key to rightly understand the mystery of Christ and the Church. Paul VI (1978) Closing Allocution of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council (Nov 21, 1964)