Maria Mshenga

Maria Mshenga ni jina la heshima linalotolewa na Kanisa Katoliki kwa Bikira Maria, mama wa Yesu Kristo^[1][2][3] .

Kadiri ya imani hiyo hatuwezi kuzungumzia kazi ya Kristo kwa mwili wake wa fumbo tusidokeze juu ya msaada wa mama Maria. Wakristo kadhaa hawaoni haja ya kumkimbilia Maria ili kuungana na Mwokozi kwa undani zaidi. Kuhusu hilo, Alois Maria wa Montfort aliwasema “walimu ambao wanamjua Mama wa Mungu kinadharia tu, kwa namna kavu, tasa na baridi, na wanaogopa heshima kwa Bikira mtakatifu itatumika vibaya hivi kwamba, kwa kumheshimu mno Mama mtakatifu, Bwana atachukizwa. Wakiongelea heshima kwa Maria ni kwa kuzuia namna zake zisizofaa kuliko kwa kuihimiza”; unaweza kudhani wanamuona ni kizuio kwa kufikia muungano na Mungu! Kumbe muungano huo unasaidiwa na heshima halisi na kubwa kwa Maria. Ni kiburi kutowajali wasaidizi tuliojaliwa kwa udhaifu wetu.

1. ↑ The term "Mediatrix" was applied to her in the dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium of the Second Vatican Council. "This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator." Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, §62, November 21, 1964
2. ↑ With special reference to Mary, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Second Vatican Council, which in its document Lumen gentium referred to Mary as "'Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix," says: {{Quote|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. ...Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix [Lumen gentium, 62]. Mary's function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin's salutary influence on men ... flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it [Lumen gentium, 60]. No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source [Lumen gentium, 62]. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 969–970
3. ↑ "Declaration of the Theological Commission of the Pontifical International Marian Academy", L'Osservatore Romano