Mary, the Mother of the Church, is not God. But our admiration abounds for the tenderness with which she approached God, the willingness with which she cooperated with God for the sake of mankind's salvation, and the sacrifice with which she gave of herself and continuously gives of herself in intercession for her children.

The two modern Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church are of course fodder for ecumenical disputes. But what most Reformation-based Christians have forgotten is that the two ancient Marian dogmas - the dogma of the theotokos, the Mother of God, and the Perpetual Virginity of Mary - were promulgated as early as the Third and Fifth Ecumenical Councils respectively. These were supposedly Church Councils whose decisions we all share in common, save for the Oriental Orthodox Churches who recognise only the first three Councils as being of ecumenical nature (even so, they hold on to the validity of these dogmas).

Looking beyond these dogmas, there is something of the spirit of Mary that the follower of Christ needs to capture. From Mary, the model of discipleship par excellence, we learn this: there is a certain tenderness of heart that is called for in discipleship.

It was she who, in all humility, said "Be it unto me according to your word" when the impending conception of the Lord Jesus Christ was announced to her. Truly, she was the favoured one of God, chosen to bring the Saviour into the world. Not because she was worthy, but rather, that she was made worthy of the promises of God.

Contrary to much of that for which feminists battle today (the right to behave like men, etc), Mary was and is the model of a woman that most deeply pleases the heart of God. She was and is blessed among women, and is a tender woman honoured by all men.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
Pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.