Category Archives: Lumen Gentium

We’re so close to the finish line on Lumen Gentium, so let’s wrap it up a bit early. It gives great joy and comfort to this holy and general Synod that even among the separated (believers) there are some who … Continue reading →

Some final reflections on Mary from the council in today’s and tomorrow’s last sections from Lumen Gentium: V. Mary the sign of created hope and solace to the wandering people of God In the interim just as the Mother of … Continue reading →

Vatican II on Marian devotion, first the good: This most Holy Synod deliberately teaches this Catholic doctrine and at the same time admonishes all the sons of the Church that the cult, especially the liturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, … Continue reading →

Part IV of Vatican II’s look at Mary is titled, “The Cult of the Blessed Virgin in the Church.” We’re clear that “cult” is understood as something other than the current main definition, right? You know we’re talking spiritual devotion, … Continue reading →

While I’m home tonight for a bit, let’s post on Vatican II, especially since I wrote it weeks ago and just put in this bitty preamble to finish it off for posting. Mary as model for holy believers: But while … Continue reading →

The council bishops reflect briefly on Church as mother: The Church indeed, contemplating her hidden sanctity, imitating her charity and faithfully fulfilling the Father’s will, by receiving the word of God in faith becomes herself a mother. By her preaching … Continue reading →

Mary as a “type of the Church.” Anybody want to tackle that? By reason of the gift and role of divine maternity, by which she is united with her Son, the Redeemer, and with His singular graces and functions, the … Continue reading →

In our site’s 2,000th post today we continue reading the relationship of Mary with believers: This maternity of Mary in the order of grace began with the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained … Continue reading →

A bit more today on Mary’s role in the Church and amongst other believers. Notably, that she is our Mother not only because of the image of Jesus as the Brother of the believers, but because her first witness to … Continue reading →

Part three of Lumen Gentium’s epilogue, “On the Blessed Virgin and the Church” leads off with a reminder that Christ is the “one Mediator.” There is but one Mediator as we know from the words of the apostle, “for there … Continue reading →

Readers today are reminded of the infalliable Marian doctrines. Remember that Christians have long held in faith the witness of grace in the Immaculate Conception and the Dormition/Assumption of Mary. These were not theological insights dropped from heaven in 1854 … Continue reading →

The seed of John Paul II’s luminous mysteries are described, in addition to Mary’s participation in the Passion of her Son. In the public life of Jesus, Mary makes significant appearances. This is so even at the very beginning, when … Continue reading →

The evangelist Luke presents Mary in a unique way and this tradition is recounted by the council: This union of the Mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception … Continue reading →

Vatican II covers the witness of the early bishops and theologians of the Church on Mary, familiar ground for solid Catholics: The Father of mercies willed that the incarnation should be preceded by the acceptance of her who was predestined … Continue reading →

Part two of Lumen Gentium‘s “epilogue” on the Blessed Mother continues with a section that examines “The Role of the Blessed Mother in the Economy of Salvation.” The Sacred Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament, as well … Continue reading →