In May 2005 the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) issued an historic agreed Statement on Our Lady, Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ.Here is a portion of their Statement:

Aware of the distinctive place of Mary in the history of salvation, Christians have given her a special place in their liturgical and private prayer, praising God for what he has done in and through her. In singing the Magnificat, they praise God with her; in the Eucharist they pray with her as they do with all God's people, integrating their prayers in the great communion of saints. They recognize Mary's place in "the prayer of all the saints" that is being uttered before the throne of God in the heavenly liturgy (Revelation 8:3-4). All these ways of including Mary in praise and prayer belong to our common heritage, as does our acknowledgement of her unique status as Theotokos, which gives her a distinctive place within the communion of saints.

And, of course, that praise and devotion is sublimely reflected in Eastern iconography.Dormition

Robert P. Imbelli, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, is a longtime Commonweal contributor.

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