Theotokos

Of all her glorious and wondrous titles, I believe Mary prefers that which is really simplest: Theotokos, God-bearer.  Everything that she is is summed up in this single statement.  She is the Mother of God.  Every controversy and every honor comes back to this.  Blessed Pope John Paul the Great instructed us that the Marian Church, the church of discipleship, precedes the Petrine Church, or the hierarchical church.  Indeed, how could it not?  For Christ, in giving Himself to His disciples, to us, in the Sacrament, makes each and every one of us a little God-bearer.