Why does Catholic typology describe Mary as the 'Ark of the New Covenant'?
In Old Testament typology, the golden Ark of the Covenant carried three items: the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (the Word of God), the golden urn of manna (the bread from heaven), and Aaron's staff that budded (the true high priest). Mary is the living Ark of the New Covenant because she carried in her womb Jesus Christ: the living Word made flesh, the true Bread of Life come down from heaven, and the eternal High Priest. Revelation 11:19-12:1 directly connects the Ark in heaven with the woman clothed with the sun.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2676
- Revelation 11:19
- Revelation 12:1
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.