PART ONE:
THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER THREE I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Article 9 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"
Paragraph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST,
MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
I. MARY'S MOTHERHOOD WITH
REGARD TO THE CHURCH
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."511
"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."512
II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
971 "All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the
Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."513
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."514
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.515