From the Catechism:
487 What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.
Mary's predestination
488 "God sent forth his Son", but to prepare a body for him,125 he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this, from all eternity God chose for the mother of his Son a daughter of Israel, a young Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee, "a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary":126
-
The Father of mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by assent on the part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman had a share in the coming of death, so also should a woman contribute to the coming of life.127
It is amazing how my respect and reverence for this woman has grown over the last few years. And no, I don't worship her... I honor her as believers ought according to the 4th commandment and I especially do so on this day the Church calls the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Happy birthday Mother Mary and please, pray for us!
By the way, I'm drawn to the image in the post. It's captivating. No clue who's responsible for it but if any of you observant readers know, by all means, let me know.
Carry on.
