As the Church once again celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the time is truly fitting to consider anew the Blessed Mother’s unique place, not just in salvation history in general, but in the relationship that Christians enjoy with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since Vatican II, all too many Catholics — both lay and clerical — have treated Mariology (Marian theology) as a stumbling block that is best avoided in the work of ecumenism. The Council Fathers, however, strongly disagree with this misguided approach saying: “All should devoutly venerate Mary and commend their life and apostolate to her maternal care” (AA 4).
What does it mean to commend ones apostolate to Mary? The “apostolate” is nothing less than participation in the mission of the Church — the mission of carrying the Gospel to the world; inviting all people’s into full communion with the Body of Christ on earth as it exists in the Catholic Church alone.
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