September 17, 2010 – Catechism 520-511

Two basic thoughts come from reading this.  First, reflecting on Mary’s yes, and in so doing, realizing that she could have said no.  Whatever you believe of Mary, you can reflect on her total obedience to God.  She had free will, as we all do.  The free will of Mary’s was, at the time of Christ Annunciation, in line perfectly with God.  Her will and God’s will, running on the same track.  I have heard people talk about what Mary was shown or what information she was given at the time of her choice.  Everything from she knew exactly what was going to happen to Christ to she was only shown herself holding Christ after the cross.  Even if she was shown or knew nothing, she knew that by accepting this, Joseph was going to see a pregnant woman that is supposed to be his wife and know that he is not the father.  She knew she could possibly be stoned for being pregnant outside of marriage.  But she believed, and her faith was such, that she followed God’s will, wherever it might lead.  Whether you believe that you should ask Saints to pray for us or not, you must agree that Mary is a model to be followed as an example of being faithful and obedient to God’s will. 

Secondly, it talks about the Church’s virginity.  The Church reproduces children into the world.  Its spouse is God.  There is no Earthly union that the Church could have that would allow it to produce for 2,000 years.  Only union with God would allow it to survive.  I was also reflecting on the idea of a Spiritual church, or a church united in spirit but not physically united.  That is how Christianity can be described by some. 

The question is can something of Spirit produce something physical.  In thinking about Mary and Jesus, I don’t think so.  God needed a physical person to create Jesus as both fully God and fully Man.  Without that human physical connection, God could have Jesus come down to Earth, but He would not have been fully Human and His sacrifice would not have been the same.  I believe the same follows with the Church.  It cannot be something that is fully spiritual.  That Church will only produce Spiritual Christians.  In order to be in the world, change and shape the world, the Church needs to be Physical.  God needs to unite Himself with a Physical Church in order to bring Himself into the world in a real way.     

We talked about Mary being fully united, her will completely in line with God’s.  There was no division in her.  Only through that instrument, could Christ come into the world.  Only through a Church that has a similar description can Christ come into a world.  A divided Church cannot be the spouse of God.  Just as Mary’s will united with God, so must God’s Church.  And God’s will is not fragmented.  There is no division, no disagreement, no contradictions in God’s will.