Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (54)

Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:

“54. Wherefore this Holy Synod, in expounding the doctrine on the Church, in which the divine Redeemer works salvation, intends to describe with diligence both the role of the Blessed Virgin in the mystery of the Incarnate Word and the Mystical Body, and the duties of redeemed mankind toward the Mother of God, who is mother of Christ and mother of men, particularly of the faithful. It does not, however, have it in mind to give a complete doctrine on Mary, nor does it wish to decide those questions which the work of theologians has not yet fully clarified. Those opinions therefore may be lawfully retained which are propounded in Catholic schools concerning her, who occupies a place in the Church which is the highest after Christ and yet very close to us.(4*)”

(4*) Cf. Paulus Pp. VI, allocutio in Concilio, die 4 dec. 1963: AAS 56 (1964) p. 37.

 

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Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen Gentium