Vatican II at 50: Mary

This weekend is the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Joseph and Mary, followed on Tuesday by the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.  Of all the saints, Mary bears the most titles.    Now, one more can be added:  The Virgin Mary of Breezy Point in Queens, New York.  Following the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, some 80 homes were destroyed in this  beachfront community.  Amidst the destruction which lay on the ground stands a wholly intact statue of Mary.   The picture made headlines around the world, affirming Mary’s most dedicated devotees.

 Prior to the Second Vatican Council, devotion to Mary was strong thanks in part to apparitions at Lourdes and Fatima, coupled with the solemn papal definitions of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and the Assumption in 1950.

In light of this, many bishops who attended the Council wanted to develop further doctrine on Mary.  Others, concerned that devotion to Mary was so strong it equaled or surpassed devotion to Christ, wanted to spend the Council’s time on other issues.  When Pope Paul VI declared Mary the “Mother of the Church,”  many bishops broke into applause, but others disagreed with the Pope’s move, believing it put Mary above the Church, rather than in the Church. 

The Vatican II  Document, Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, devoted a chapter to Mary.  In this chapter, bishops hoped to demonstrate that in spite of the unique role played by Mary in the plan of salvation, she is still to be seen as a member of the church, not some kind of semi-deity.

The Virgin Mary, who at the message of the angel received the Word of God in her heart and in her body and gave Life to the world, is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer… Because of this gift of sublime grace she far surpasses all creatures, both in heaven and on earth. At the same time, however, because she belongs to the offspring of Adam she is one with all those who are to be saved. Lumen Gentium #54

Thus, says the Council, Mary is one of us and yet our model.  For her “yes” brought new life to the world!  Amen.