What is Mary's title that describes her relationship to the Church?

Answer 1

Catholics honor Mary in a special way because she was the mother of Christ. Since Christ is God, Mary is then the Mother of God. We also believe that she was conceived without original sin, as she told St. Bernadette in 1858 ("I am the Immaculate Conception"), and remained sinless throughout her entire life. This makes sense if you compare Mary carrying Jesus in her womb with the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament. Mary can be considered the "new Ark of the Covenant" in the sense that in the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant contained the Jew's most sacred items: the Ten Commandments (Deut 10:5), the staff of Aaron (Num 17:6), and manna from the desert (Ex 16:32). Now, Mary held in her womb the Living Word, the ultimate High Priest, and the Bread of Life. Also, the ark of the Covenant was to be made out of pure gold with no blemishes (Ex 25:11). Likewise, Mary was free from the stains of original sin by necessity since the moment of her Immaculate Conception.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he "greets Mary as 'full of grace'; he calls her thus as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name: Miryam (= Mary), but by this new name: 'full of grace,'" or in Latin, kecharitōmenē (John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater,8). This does not mean that Mary is just "'graced,' but 'full of grace,' 100 percent, up to the brim, to the creature's limit" (Peter Kreeft, Catholic Christianity, 416). Therefore, there is literally no room in her for any type of sin or impurity. Also, in biblical times, people used to change their names when something significant happened to them and changed their lives. For example, Saul changed to Paul and Abram changed to Abraham. Likewise, Mary's new name signifies a great change in her life; it signifies that she "is full of grace because she is about to become the mother of God and God could do nothing less than prepare her for this role with every grace possible" (Nicholas Ayo, The Hail Mary, 44).

We also believe that Mary assumed, body and soul, into heaven, although the Church is not clear on whether she died before this. Also, when Jesus addressed John and Mary at the foot of the cross saying "Woman, behold, your son!" and "Son, behold, your mother!" we believe that Christ was giving his mother Mary to the world, and so is our mother as well (John 19:26b-27a).

Catholics have many devotions (such as the rosary and the Angelus) and feast days dedicated to Mary (such as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 and the Birth of Mary on September 8), however we do NOT worship her, as many people believe. Yes, we do pray to her, but prayer is a conversation with someone in heaven. We ask our family and friends to pray for us down on earth - we do the same with Mary and the saints. They are still living - the only difference is that they are in heaven.

There are three types of honor: cultus latreia, hyperdulia, and cultus dulia. The highest is called latreia, or "adoration," and this honor is only given to God. The lowest is cultus dulia, or "veneration," and this is honor given to angels and other saints. In between cultus latreia and cultus dulia lies hyperdulia, or "higher veneration." This is the type of honor bestowed upon Mary. "The special veneration due to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is substantially less than the cultus latria (adoration), which is due to God alone. But it is higher than the cultus dulia(veneration), due to angels and other saints. As the Church understands the veneration of Mary, it is to be closely associated but subordinated to that of her Son. 'The various forms of piety towards the Mother of God, which the Church has approved within the limits of sound and orthodox doctrine according to the dispositions and understanding of the faithful, ensure that while the mother is honored, the Son through whom all things have their being and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, is rightly loved and glorified and His commandments are observed' (Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, VII, 66). (Etym. Latin hyperdulia, virtue of deep submission.) "

Answer 2

She takes the place of a devoted mother in Jesus Christ life and would do anything to stay closer to God, when she was sked to be the mother of Jesus Christ she was more than merrier to accept him as a son this teaches us she would do anything in the name of God.

Answer 3

Mary, "Mother of Church" link provides quotes from various popes

Answer 4

She is the Mother of the Christian Church.