Page 347 - 聖母軍團員手冊（英文版，2014年5月-2022年1月更新版）

Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 342

342 THE DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION APPENDIX 2
Saviour in restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason
she is a mother to us in the order of grace.
Article 62. This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace
con tinues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally
gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without
wavering be neath the cross, until the eternal fulfilment of all
the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving
office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us
the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity she cares
for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth
surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into
their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in
the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefact ress
and Mediatrix. This, however, is so understood that it neither
takes away anything from nor adds anything to the dignity
and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator.
Article 65. But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church
has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without
spot or wrinkle (cf Eph 5:27), the faithful still strive to conquer
sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to
Mary who shines forth to the whole community of the elect as
the model of virtues. Devoutly meditating on her and
contemplating her in the light of the Word made man, the
Church reverently penetrates more deeply into the great
mystery of the Incarnation and becomes more and more like
her spouse. Having entered deeply into the history of salvation,
Mary, in a way, unites in her person and re-echoes the most
important doctrines of the faith: and when she is the subject of
preaching and worship she prompts the faithful to come to her
Son, to his sacrifice and to the love of the Father. Seeking after
the glory of Christ, the Church becomes more like her lofty
type, and continually progresses in faith, hope and charity,
seeking and doing the will of God in all things. The Church,
therefore, in her apostolic work too, rightly looks to her who
gave birth to Christ who was thus conceived of the Holy Spirit
and born of a Virgin, in order that through the Church he
could be born and increase in the hearts of the faithful. In her
life the Virgin has been a model of that motherly love with
which all who join in the Church’s apostolic mission for the
regeneration of mankind should be animated.