to the flesh, was none other than the Father’s eternal Son, the Second
Person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly
“Mother of God” (Theotokos).
No. 970:
“Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or
diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But
the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence on men...flows forth from the
superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends
entirely on it, and draws all its power from it. No creature could ever be
counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the
priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the
faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways
among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does
not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a
sharing in this one source.”
No. 971:
“All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s
devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The
Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the
most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of
‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers
and needs ... This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the
adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father
and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts
dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the Rosary, an
“epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.
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