Campus Ministry Corner:
Totus tuus: Totally yours
Drew Whitmore
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: Campus Life
As the Advent season approaches, the subjects of the Virgin Mary and the Rosary-particularly the Joyful Mysteries-become prevalent in the minds of believers. However, there are many who do not understand the great importance of these doctrines in the Catholic faith or simply do not understand them at all. Though this article has not the length to do much service to explaining the doctrines of Mary, I will try to explain enough to help inspire anyone to seriously revere the Rosary and take it up in prayer.
The Virgin Mary is called by many titles, including Advocate, Benefactress, Helper and Mediatrix (that is, one who mediates, not to be confused with Redemptress, which is not Church teaching). As the Mother of God who was born without sin, eternally virgin, and crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, she holds a prominent position in salvation history. Whereas Eve was the Mother of the Living, Mary is Mother of the Church, that is, Mother of the Living and the Dead, of all believers.
That is quite a lot to take in and that which countless other texts cover in logical detail. For our purposes, we'll focus on where the Rosary begins: Mary's acceptance to bear Christ. Theologian George Weigel explains in The Truth About Catholicism, "Mary was the first disciple because Mary's 'yes' to the angel's message had made possible the incarnation of the Son of God…Mary's assumption into heaven was a preview of what awaits all those whom Christ will save. For all these reasons…Mary provides a defining profile of what the Church is, of how the men and women of the Church should live, and of what the eternal destiny of disciples will be" (46).
This seems like an awful lot of talk about Mary, and thus many have developed the misconception that the Rosary prayer is worship of Mary. Quite the contrary, the Rosary is Christ-centered; the whole of the Gospel is contained in its 20 mysteries. Mary is invoked only as an intercessor for our prayers, while the focus remains on Christ, our Savior. Every Mystery relates to Christ, and through our contemplation of them Mary prays for Christ to bestow His graces and virtues on us. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies, "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship" and "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" (971).
The Virgin Mary is called by many titles, including Advocate, Benefactress, Helper and Mediatrix (that is, one who mediates, not to be confused with Redemptress, which is not Church teaching). As the Mother of God who was born without sin, eternally virgin, and crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, she holds a prominent position in salvation history. Whereas Eve was the Mother of the Living, Mary is Mother of the Church, that is, Mother of the Living and the Dead, of all believers.
That is quite a lot to take in and that which countless other texts cover in logical detail. For our purposes, we'll focus on where the Rosary begins: Mary's acceptance to bear Christ. Theologian George Weigel explains in The Truth About Catholicism, "Mary was the first disciple because Mary's 'yes' to the angel's message had made possible the incarnation of the Son of God…Mary's assumption into heaven was a preview of what awaits all those whom Christ will save. For all these reasons…Mary provides a defining profile of what the Church is, of how the men and women of the Church should live, and of what the eternal destiny of disciples will be" (46).
This seems like an awful lot of talk about Mary, and thus many have developed the misconception that the Rosary prayer is worship of Mary. Quite the contrary, the Rosary is Christ-centered; the whole of the Gospel is contained in its 20 mysteries. Mary is invoked only as an intercessor for our prayers, while the focus remains on Christ, our Savior. Every Mystery relates to Christ, and through our contemplation of them Mary prays for Christ to bestow His graces and virtues on us. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies, "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship" and "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" (971).
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