The Life of Mary: The Wedding Feast of Cana©

The charts below are direct quotes from Post-Vatican II Magisterial Documents concerning the theme, Mary's Life, Cana. 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	VI. The Life of Mary / 2i. Sacred Scripture: New Testament Elements Life of Christ: The Wedding Feast of Cana
Lumen Gentium, 1964	In the public life of Jesus Mary appears prominently; at...Cana, moved with pity, she brought about by her intercession the miracles of Jesus the Messiah. (cf. Jn 2:1-11) 58
Recurrens Mensis October, 1969	The Gospel teaches us that Mary is sensitive to the needs of men. At Cana, she did not hesitate to intervene, to the joy of the villagers invited to a wedding feast. (Jn 2:15) 7
Behold Your Mother (USA), 1973	[Cana - Calvary parallel 34-37] What began at Cana achieved its consummation on Calvary. 34 It is striking that no sign is done to help Mary believe. The Mother of Jesus requires no miracle to strengthen her faith. At her Son's word, before "this first of his signs," she shows her faith. 35 She was moved by pity, and her intercession brought about the beginning of miracles by Jesus the Messiah (LG 58). 36 Her example of concern for others, as shown at the wedding feast of Cana, will exercise its gentle influence. 137 [Also 138]
Marialis Cultus, 1974	[exemplar of the Church, esp. in liturgy] the Virgin in prayer ... 18
Redemptoris Mater, 1987	"There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples" (Jn. 2:1-2). From the text it appears that Jesus and his disciples were invited together with Mary, as if by reason of her presence at the celebration: the Son seems to have been invited because of his mother. 21 Mary is present at Cana in Galilee as the Mother of Jesus, and in a significant way she contributes to that "beginning of the signs" which reveal the messianic power of her Son. 21 [full Scripture given] Cana in Galilee offers us a sort of first announcement of Mary's mediation, wholly oriented towards Christ and tending to the revelation of his salvific power. 22 [There are other references; see also "mediation" and "entrustment" 45]
The VM in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation, 1988	The Virgin was actively present in the life of the Church - in its being set up (the mystery of Cana and of the Cross). 17
Veritatis Splendor, 1993	To us too she addresses the command she gave to the servants at Cana in Galilee during the marriage feast: "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2:5) 120
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994 Fidei Depositum, 1992	725 Finally, through Mary, the Holy Spirit begins to bring men, the objects of God's merciful love, (Lk 2:14) into communion with Christ. And the humble are always the first to accept him: shepherds, magi, Simeon and Anna, the bride and groom at Cana, and the first disciples. [See also 528, 1613, 2618]
Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 2002	Thereafter, Mary's gaze, ever filled with adoration and wonder, would never leave him. At times it would be a questioning look, as in the episode of the finding in the Temple: "Son, why have you treated us so?" (Lk 2:48); it would always be a penetrating gaze, one capable of deeply understanding Jesus, even to the point of perceiving his hidden feelings and anticipating his decisions, as at Cana .(cf. Jn 2:5) 10 But among creatures no one knows Christ better than Mary; no one can introduce us to a profound knowledge of his mystery better than his Mother. The first of the "signs" worked by Jesus – the changing of water into wine at the marriage in Cana - clearly presents Mary in the guise of a teacher, as she urges the servants to do what Jesus commands. (cf. Jn 2:5) 14 At the wedding of Cana the Gospel clearly shows the power of Mary's intercession as she makes known to Jesus the needs of others: "They have no wine." (Jn 2:3) 16 In proposing to the Christian community five significant moments - "luminous" mysteries - during this phase of Christ's life, I think that the following can be fittingly singled out: (1) his Baptism in the Jordan, (2) his self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana, (3) his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion, (4) his Transfiguration, and finally, (5) his institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. 21 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
Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 2003	In repeating what Christ did at the Last Supper in obedience to his command: "Do this in memory of me!", we also accept Mary's invitation to obey him without hesitation: "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2:5) With the same maternal concern which she showed at the wedding feast of Cana, Mary seems to say to us: "Do not waver; trust in the words of my Son. If he was able to change water into wine, he can also turn bread and wine into his body and blood, and through this mystery bestow on believers the living memorial of his passover, thus becoming the 'bread of life'." 54

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