FROM JESUS THROUGH MARY ONLY?
by Bro. Gregory-David Jones, O.S.B.
The current trend within the Roman Catholic Church which has lead some
(a few years ago) to petition the Pope and cardinals to make the title
of Mary as Co-Redemptorix and Co-Mediatrix a defined dogma of faith is
stirring some controversy inside and outside the Church. On the
one
hand those who are against “dogmatizing” such a statement feel that not
only would it set back interdenominational relations with other
Christians,
but that it could lead to major theological misunderstandings among the
faithful about the role of Christ in the plan of salvation. The
matter
of the theological discussion goes beyond the typical Protestant vs.
Catholic
view of Mary debate, but to the very foundations of Catholic
theological
understanding of salvation.
If one accepts Mary as Co-redemptorix and Co-mediatrix “of all graces”,
then a step can be taken further to conclude that everything comes
“from
Jesus through Mary” or even “There is no salvation without Mary”
(statements
among others of the same weight which I have heard in Catholic
discussions
on Mary). Could these statements which many see as inflated
diminish
our understanding of the role of Christ in our salvation as revealed in
the Bible?
If one believes that Jesus depends on the intercession of His mother to
answer the prayers of the faithful; if one believes that all graces
come
from Mary and that God could not save a single soul without Mary’s
intercession
is in complete contradiction with Scriptures and Church
tradition.
Jesus being the Word of God (Jn. 1), the one Mediator between “God and
man” (Gal. 3: 19-20, 1 Tim. 2:5) is able to do anything He wants
without
the intercession of anyone including His mother. For example,
Mary
was not around when Jesus cured the blind man (Mk. 10:46-52) or cured
the
ten lepers (Lk. 17:12-19), in fact, she did not even know these
people.
These references point to the fact that Jesus did grant favors without
Mary’s intercession.
Too often Mary is compared (by some Catholics) to the back door for us
to reach God or receive special blessings or that Mary “softens up”
Jesus
to be more compassionate. This analogy can be misleading and can
be inconsiderate not only of the dignity of Mary but of the supreme
mercy
of God. Mary is much more than a means, she is a companion in the
faith and friend in prayer. Of course she is not the Way, the
Truth
and the Life (as Jesus is), but she is so much associated with the
Christ
(biologically and spiritually) that she being a member of the “cloud of
witnesses” (Heb. 12:1,2) of the saints in heaven, being the first among
them; she knows the needs and concerns of us on earth on our pilgrimage
to heaven. Therefore, nothing goes unnoticed by Mary because of
the
power of God working in her and all the “witnesses” in heaven.
Instead of comparing her to a door, a mother calming down her angry
son,
or a water softener, let’s compare her to something more concrete and
personal.
She is like a friend who finishes a very long journey before her
companions.
She shouts words of encouragement and compassion (through apparitions),
gives inspiration through her example and offers as much help as
possible
out of love and concern for humanity (intercessory prayer to her Son
for
us). Due to the fact that she continually intercedes for us on
earth
from her throne in heaven (a throne of course which she inherited from
her Son along with all saints), she is taking part in the ministry of
Christ
as a member of His Body, the Church Triumphant.
