YOUCAT Question n. 117 - Part II. How could the Holy Spirit work in, with, and through Mary?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) Mary was totally responsive and open to God (Lk 1:38). Thus
she was able to become the “Mother of God” through the working of the Holy
Spirit—and as Christ’s Mother to become
also the Mother of Christians, indeed, the Mother of all mankind.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 722)
The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his
grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the whole fullness
of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9) should herself be "full of
grace." She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most humble
of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of the
Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the
"Daughter of Zion": "Rejoice" (Cf. Zeph 3:14; Zech 2:14).
It is the thanksgiving of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church,
which Mary in her canticle (Cf. Lk 1:46-55) lifts up to the Father in the Holy
Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment)
Mary made it possible
for the Holy Spirit to work the miracle of all miracles: the Incarnation of
God. She gave God her Yes: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to
me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, she went
with Jesus through thick and thin, even to the foot of the Cross. There Jesus
gave her to us all as our Mother (Jn 19:25-27).
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 712)
The characteristics of the awaited Messiah
begin to appear in the "Book of Emmanuel" ("Isaiah said this
when he saw his glory" (Jn 12:41; cf. Isa 6-12), speaking of Christ),
especially in the first two verses of Isaiah
11 (Isa 11:1-2): There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a
branch shall grow out of his roots, and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD (Isa 11:1-2).
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