Mary and Jesus Christ: Disciple©

The charts below are direct quotes from Post-Vatican II Magisterial Documents concerning the theme, Mary and Jesus Christ: Disciple. These teachings of the Catholic Church may prove useful to include in talks, in homilies or for research. For the full title and document data, click on the abbreviation code (for example, BYM leads you to the document, Behold Your Mother). This will also lead you to the complete document on this website or assist you in locating it elsewhere.

For an index of the documents used in the study see: List of Magisterial Documents
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Documents	II. Mary and Jesus Christ / 4. Disciple
Lumen Gentium, 1964	In the course of her Son's preaching she received the words...he declared blessed those who heard and kept the word of God (cf. Mk 3:35; Lk 11:27f.) as she was faithfully doing. (cf. Lk 2:19; 51) 58
Signum Magnum, 1967	For this holy Virgin, who always adapted herself to God's will, was the first to merit the words of praise that Christ spoke to his followers: "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother." [Mt 12:50] 23
Behold Your Mother (USA), 1973	As a perfect disciple, the Virgin Mary heard the Word of God and kept it, to the lasting joy of the messianic generations who call her blessed. 78 Deeper Biblical insights have increased our awareness of Mary as the model of faithful discipleship; but [also her present intercession] 81 As a believing disciple of Jesus, Mary can be called daughter of the Church, and our sister as well. For, like us, she has been redeemed by Christ, although in an eminent and privileged way. (Paul VI, Feb 2, 1965) 114
Marialis Cultus, 1974	She is worthy of imitation because she was the first and the most perfect of Christ's disciples. 35 The figure of the Blessed Virgin does not disillusion any of the profound expectations of the men and women of our time but offers them the perfect model of the disciple of the Lord: the disciple who builds up the earthly and temporal city while being a diligent pilgrim towards the heavenly and eternal city; the disciple who works for that justice which sets free the oppressed and for that charity which assists the needy; but above all, the disciple who is the active witness of that love which builds up Christ in people's hearts. 37
Catechesi Tradendae, 1979	She in turn was the first of His disciples. She was the first in time, because even when she found her adolescent Son in the temple she received from Him lessons that she kept in her heart. (cf. Lk 2:51) She was the first disciple above all else because no one has been "taught by God" (cf. Jn 6:45) to such depth. She was "both mother and disciple," as St. Augustine said of her, venturing to add that her discipleship was more important for her than her motherhood. (cf. Sermo 25, 7; PL 46, 937-938) 73
Redemptoris Mater, 1987	[Mary continued to hear and ponder; she grew in knowledge of her spiritual motherhood.] Thus in a sense Mary as Mother became the first "disciple" of her Son, the first to whom he seemed to say: "Follow me," even before he addressed this call to the Apostles or to anyone else (cf. Jn. 1:43). 20 "handmaid of the Lord" remained throughout her earthly life faithful to what this name expresses. In this she confirmed that she was a true "disciple" of Christ, who strongly emphasized that his mission was one of service: the Son of Man "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt. 20:28) In this way Mary became the first of those who, "serving Christ also in others, with humility and patience lead their brothers and sisters to that King whom to serve is to reign." (LG 36) [See also glory of serving] 41
The VM in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation, 1988	She is the disciple who, during the preaching of Christ "received his praise when, in extolling a kingdom beyond the calculations of flesh and blood, he declared blessed (cf. MK 3:35; LK 11:27-28) those who heard and kept the word of God, as she was faithfully doing." (cf. LK 2:19,51) (LG 58) 7 Because she is the "perfect follower of Christ." (Marialis Cultus, 35) .... 21
Vita Consecrata, 1996	the practice of the evangelical counsels ... in imitation of ... Mary of Nazareth, the first disciple, who willingly put herself at the service of God's plan by the total gift of self 18 Having lived with Jesus and Joseph in the hidden years of Nazareth, and present at her Son's side at crucial moment of his public life, the Blessed Virgin teaches unconditional discipleship and diligent service. 28
Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 2002	Another mystery of light is the first of the signs, given at Cana (cf. Jn 2:1- 12), when Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers. 21

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