Monday, October 09, 2006
Part three of Lumen Gentium's epilogue, "On the Blessed Virgin and the Church" leads off with a reminder that Christ is the "one Mediator." There is but one Mediator as we know from the words of the apostle, "for there is one God and one mediator of God and (people), the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a redemption for all".(1 Tim. 2, 5-6.) The maternal duty of Mary toward (human beings) in no wise obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows His power. For all the salvific influence of the Blessed Virgin on (people) originates, not from some inner necessity, but from the divine pleasure. It flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on His mediation, depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it. In no way does it impede, but rather does it foster the immediate union of the faithful with Christ.
God's choice, not some inherent divine power of Mary, is at work here.
