Mary as a Type of the Church - Virginity

(Sharing for Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 9 Apr 2011)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We have seen Mary being a type of the Church as mother. Because Mary is both mother and virgin, she is model of the Church also as virgin.” (Neuner, 2004, p. 75) Vatican II teaches, in the mystery of the Church, “the Blessed Virgin stands out in eminent and singular fashion as exemplar both of virgin and mother” (Lumen gentium, #63). Today, I will share on the virginity of Mary and the Church, drawing mainly from Fr. Josef Neuner’s “Mary, Mother of the Saviour” and other Church documents.

We normally understand virginity as the state of a person who has not had sexual relations. Generally, it conveys purity that makes one more suitable for special religious functions, but the biblical meaning of virginity is “a state of helplessness and total dependence on God”. (Neuner, 2004, p. 60)

In the New Testament, virginity means the orientation of the whole person to discipleship above all human bonds. (Neuner, 2004, p. 61) Jesus Christ Himself directs to spiritual relationships rather than those of the flesh. In St. Paul’s letters, virginity means faithful adherence to Jesus Christ’s Gospel and the state of life committed to more exclusive service of God. (Neuner, 2004)

In Christian Tradition, virginity is understood mainly as “a life of total commitment to God”. (Neuner, 2004) The Magisterium of the Church sees virginity as a total adherence to God, consecrated to Him fully body and soul.

The meaning of Mary’s virginity is that she is included in God’s salvation plan with her whole being, body, mind and spirit. (Neuner, 2004, p. 75) Pope John Paul II saw Mary’s consent to motherhood as, above all, a result of her total self-giving to God in virginity (Redemptoris Mater, #39). By virtue of this spousal love, Mary wished to be always and in all things "given to God," living in virginity.

The Church is made virgin by Christ’s ransoming her from the fornication of demons. (Augustine of Hippo, as cited by Neuner, 2004, p. 76) “Thus the Church is… mother through her heart of love, virgin through integrity of faith and devotion.” (Neuner, 2004) The Church is the Bride of Christ. And so, the Church’s virginity consisted in the integrity of the faith and the exclusive adherence to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Neuner, 2004) Just as the Church learns her own motherhood from Mary, following Mary’s example, she remains the virgin faithful to her spouse (John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 1987, #43; St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians).

How does the Church follow Mary in her virginity? Through openness to God’s word, responsive involvement and exclusive reliance on God. (Neuner, 2004, p. 75) As St. Ambrose taught, Mary is a type of the Church “in the order of faith, charity and perfect union with Christ.” (Lumen gentium, #63) The words "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord" testify to Mary’s openness of spirit. (John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 1987, #39)

How is understanding the virginity of the Church relevant to us? Firstly, the virgin-mother aspects justify both perpetual celibacy and marriage; both may be holy. (Brownson, n.d.) Virginity “has nothing to do with a negative attitude towards the body and sexual relations”; in fact the Bible “breathes the pure spirit of God’s creation and mandate: Be fruitful and multiply”. The higher state, however, as Christ taught in Matthew 19, is celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of God. Jesus said “He that can take it, let him take it.” Thus, virginity is not necessary for Christian perfection (Pius XII, Sacra Virginitas, #45). Virgins are extolled not because they are virgins, but because they are dedicated to God. (Augustine of Hippo, as cited by Pius XII, Sacra Virginitas, #16)

Secondly, I quote Fr. Neuner, “The virgin-spouse metaphor emphasises the attitude of contemplative love, the need to be fed by the word of God and to keep the union with God as the ultimate goal of human life.” Virgins, be they the clergy, religious, consecrated laypersons either by public or private vows, may more completely reflect this by lives in service of the kingdom and neighbour. Pope JPII wrote that “…such virginity, after the example of the Virgin of Nazareth, is the source of a special spiritual fruitfulness: it is the source of motherhood in the Holy Spirit.” (John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, #43)

My reflexions: married people living faithfully to the Gospel may bear fruits of spiritual virginity in the Church through the faith planted in their children. By providing every help for youths who feel called to the priesthood or religious life, they help the Church to be truly mother, for the Church is fully mother only when her children are fully virgin, in body, mind and spirit, like Mary.

And so, celibate or married, in so far as we live our vocation faithfully, we are living as Christ’s faithful Bride, the Church.

The PMPT theme for April being “Vocation for Mission”, our next two sharings will be on the charisms of two religious orders, which reflect the virginity of the Church.

References:

Brownson, O.A. (n.d.) The moral and social influence of devotion to Mary. [Electronic version]. Retrieved 22 December 2010 from the Catholic Culture website: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=5860.

John Paul II. (25 March 1987). Redemptoris Mater. On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church.

Neuner, J. (2004). Mary – Mother of the Saviour. Bangalore: Theological Publications in India.

Pius XII. (25 March 1954). Sacra Virginitas. Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Consecrated Virginity.

Vatican Council II. (21 November 1964). Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium.