The marriage feast of Cana is also demonstrative of Mary’s powerful solicitation or intercession with her Son. We often concentrate on the miraculous change of water into wine. Certainly, this was a sign that would start people wondering about Jesus and what his mission among them might be. But, more immediately, the witnesses would have every reason to ponder about Mary’s role. It was at her urging that Jesus worked his first miracle. Who was this woman who brought this wonder-worker to them and could compel him to do such things? As always, Mary’s involvement would draw disciples to her Son and precipitate faith in him.
Catholicism both emphasizes the unique and essential role of Jesus as the Mediator and acknowledges that there are various lesser and dependent or secondary forms of mediation. For instance, ordained priests and the sacraments access the primary salvific act of Christ but through men configured to the great high priest and through elements or mysteries instituted by our Lord for these purposes. We pray for one another and beseech the intercession of the saints. We add our crosses to that of Christ and seek to make reparation for offenses against the loving heart of Jesus. Mary’s involvement is considered so important that she has been given a devotional title that seems to mirror her Son’s as the Mediator. Mary is called the Mediatrix of Graces. Her function is entirely secondary, contingent and subordinate to her Son. She is of the same mind and heart with him. She offers us Christ in Bethlehem and will extend her arms to hold him when he is taken down from the Cross, offering him again to us. She only wants what her Son wants, the forgiveness of sins and the redemption of a people. Mary cooperates with her Son in building up his kingdom. We all are called to imitate Mary in bringing others into an encounter and unity with Jesus Christ. How can believers possibly say they love their neighbor if they are passive or disinterested in facilitating such meetings with Christ? It is no wonder that a sterilized non-Catholic form of Christianity tends on one hand to dismiss Mary and on the other to so internalize or privatize religion that ignorance of Christ in others is tolerated and no move is made to introduce them to our saving God. The failure to cooperate with God and to evangelize is a failure to love. No one comes to the truth alone. Everything is mediated. We pass on what we have because what we have matters. Nothing compares to the acquisition of the Greatest Good. We can gain money, fame, power and possessions; but if we do not have God, then we really have nothing. Speaking personally, this is why I became a priest: for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of souls. All those who focus on these objectives will remain in union with Christ and rightly have a devotion to Mary. The particular difference between Mary’s mediation and that of others is based upon her maternal identity.
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The bible says ‘there is only one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ’ This whole article is not biblical. There is not mediatrix of grace, the is only one way to the father, Jesus Christ, his atoning sacrafice. Mary was blessed among women and she obeyed God and had great faith that he would protect her through what she agreed to do. She is in heaven and the bible says the dead are unaware of the goings on on earth. The assumption into heaven was made Catholic doctrine in 1950 and is also unbiblical. Maybe she was assumed into heaven, either way, she cannot hear our prayers. You mention the central part being her maternal nature. You imply that God is lacking in this aspect of nature. We were created in the image of God and he is referred to as male but he is spirit and possesses the nature of both the very best father AND the very best mother. There is no need for anything but him. Mary is so important to the story of Jesus but the bible strongly implies she was not ever virgin when it states Joseph did not know her until she has given birth to Jesus, they wis also mention of Jesus actual siblings. The catholic view of Mary is distorted and I have seen some truth idolatrous imagery and some quite worrying. All non biblical and all more reminiscent of Isis or Juno or any other goddess of ancient myth.