The Central Role The Central Role of Mary, Mother of Mary, Mother

of Godof God

1. Pope John Paul II1. Pope John Paul II said in his enccyclical said in his enccyclical Redemptoris MaterRedemptoris Mater::

Thus there is a mediation: Mary places Thus there is a mediation: Mary places herself between her Son and mankind in the herself between her Son and mankind in the reality of their wants, needs and sufferings. reality of their wants, needs and sufferings. She puts herself "in the middle", that is to She puts herself "in the middle", that is to say she acts as a mediatrixsay she acts as a mediatrix not as an not as an outsider, but in her position as mother. She outsider, but in her position as mother. She knows that knows that as such she can point out to her as such she can point out to her Son the needs of mankindSon the needs of mankind, and in fact, she , and in fact, she "has the right" to do so. Her mediation is "has the right" to do so. Her mediation is thus in the nature of intercession: thus in the nature of intercession: Mary Mary "intercedes" for mankind."intercedes" for mankind.[80]

““She knows everything that happens in our She knows everything that happens in our lives and supports us with maternal love in lives and supports us with maternal love in our trials.our trials. Taken up to heavenly glory, Taken up to heavenly glory, Mary Mary dedicates herself totally to the work of dedicates herself totally to the work of salvationsalvation. She wants every living person to . She wants every living person to know the happiness granted to her. know the happiness granted to her. She is a She is a queen who give all that she possessqueen who give all that she possess, , participating above all in the life and love of participating above all in the life and love of Christ.”Christ.”

2. Leo XIII, the Rosary Pope2. Leo XIII, the Rosary Pope,, explained the explained the importance of importance of the Rosary as the one road to God, the Rosary as the one road to God, from the father to the Son, to his Mother, and from from the father to the Son, to his Mother, and from her to the human raceher to the human race.. He emphasized that no He emphasized that no human creature can change this and therefore human creature can change this and therefore there there exists only exists only one road for the faithful,one road for the faithful, to the Mother to the Mother and from her to Christ and through Christ to the and from her to Christ and through Christ to the FatherFather. The Rosary is a vital means to participate in . The Rosary is a vital means to participate in the life of Mary and to find the way to Christ. This the life of Mary and to find the way to Christ. This emphasis on the emphasis on the path through Mary to Christpath through Mary to Christ (which (which was also a basis for some of Louis de Montfort's was also a basis for some of Louis de Montfort's writings) has since been a key direction in Roman writings) has since been a key direction in Roman Catholic Mariology, with Mariology being viewed as Catholic Mariology, with Mariology being viewed as inherent in Christology, and the Rosary paving that inherent in Christology, and the Rosary paving that path.path.

3. Bernhard of Clairvaux3. Bernhard of Clairvaux, a Doctor of the , a Doctor of the Church, was a fervent supporter of the Church, was a fervent supporter of the Mediatrix interpretation of Mary. God and Mediatrix interpretation of Mary. God and the World meet in herthe World meet in her. Divine life flows . Divine life flows through her to the whole creation. She is through her to the whole creation. She is one with Jesus, who wants to save all and one with Jesus, who wants to save all and who passes all graces through her. She is who passes all graces through her. She is the Mediatrix to God, the ladder on which the Mediatrix to God, the ladder on which sinners may climb up to him, the royal road sinners may climb up to him, the royal road to him, because she is full of grace.to him, because she is full of grace.

"It is the will of God that we should have nothing, "It is the will of God that we should have nothing, which has not passed through the hands of Mary. which has not passed through the hands of Mary. It is the will of God, Who would have us obtain It is the will of God, Who would have us obtain everything through the hands of Mary."everything through the hands of Mary."

4. Our Lady of Fatima4. Our Lady of Fatima told Lucia: told Lucia:

““Lucia, tell everybody that God gives Lucia, tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculate Heart graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from her.”her.”

5. Treasurer and Dispenser5. Treasurer and Dispenser:: Before speaking any of the Before speaking any of the seven last words, Jesus prayed to the Father and said: “seven last words, Jesus prayed to the Father and said: “First First shall be mentioned my most pure Mother, who gave Me shall be mentioned my most pure Mother, who gave Me human existence; human existence; Her I constitute my sole and universal Her I constitute my sole and universal Heiress of all the gifts of nature, of grace and of glory that are Heiress of all the gifts of nature, of grace and of glory that are mine. She shall be Mistress and Possessor of them allmine. She shall be Mistress and Possessor of them all. The . The gifts of grace, of which as a mere creature She is capable, gifts of grace, of which as a mere creature She is capable, She shall actually receive now, while those of glory I promise She shall actually receive now, while those of glory I promise to confer upon Her in their time. to confer upon Her in their time. I desire that She shall be I desire that She shall be Mistress of angels and men, claim over them full possession Mistress of angels and men, claim over them full possession and dominion and command the service and obedience of alland dominion and command the service and obedience of all. . The demons shall fear Her and be subject to Her. All the The demons shall fear Her and be subject to Her. All the irrational creatures, the heavens, the stars, the planets, the irrational creatures, the heavens, the stars, the planets, the elements with all the living beings, the birds, the fishes and elements with all the living beings, the birds, the fishes and the animals contained in them, shall likewise be subject to the animals contained in them, shall likewise be subject to Her and acknowledge Her as MistressHer and acknowledge Her as Mistress,, exalting and glorifying exalting and glorifying Her with Me. Her with Me. I wish also that She be the Treasurer and I wish also that She be the Treasurer and Dispenser of all the goods in heaven and on earthDispenser of all the goods in heaven and on earth. . Whatever Whatever She ordains and disposes in my Church for my children, the She ordains and disposes in my Church for my children, the sons of men, shall be confirmed by the three divine Persons; sons of men, shall be confirmed by the three divine Persons; and and whatever She shall ask for mortals now, afterwards and whatever She shall ask for mortals now, afterwards and forever, We shall concede according to her will and wishes.”forever, We shall concede according to her will and wishes.” ( (Mary of Agreda. TheMary of Agreda. The Mystical city of God.Mystical city of God. ) )

As She was the Coadjutrix of salvation She was As She was the Coadjutrix of salvation She was also to be the testamentary Executrix. For the Son also to be the testamentary Executrix. For the Son placed all things in her hands, just as the Father placed all things in her hands, just as the Father had assigned the whole creation to Him. had assigned the whole creation to Him. She was She was to execute his will and she was to distribute all the to execute his will and she was to distribute all the treasurestreasures acquired and due to her Son as God on acquired and due to her Son as God on account of his infinite merits. This understanding account of his infinite merits. This understanding has been given me as part of this history for the has been given me as part of this history for the exaltation of our Queen and in order exaltation of our Queen and in order that sinners that sinners might approach Her as Custodian of all the might approach Her as Custodian of all the treasures gained by her Son our Redeemer in the treasures gained by her Son our Redeemer in the sight of his eternal Father. All help and assistance sight of his eternal Father. All help and assistance is in the hands of most holy Mary and She is to is in the hands of most holy Mary and She is to distribute it according to her most sweet kindnessdistribute it according to her most sweet kindness and liberality.and liberality. ( (Mystical City of God. Mary of Mystical City of God. Mary of Agreda.)Agreda.)

Diego Rodriguez de Silva, The Coronation of the Virgin. 1641. Museo del Prado. Madrid.

Intercede for us Not She has changed, Not She has changed, nor is her love less nor is her love less ardent, nor would we ardent, nor would we experience less of her experience less of her intercession and intercession and protection, protection, if in troubled if in troubled times we would hasten to times we would hasten to her with the same her with the same sentiments of humility sentiments of humility and fervor, asking for her and fervor, asking for her prayers and trustfully prayers and trustfully relying upon Her for relying upon Her for help,help, as was the case as was the case with those devoted with those devoted Christians in the first Christians in the first beginning. Without a beginning. Without a doubt doubt the whole Catholic the whole Catholic Church would then Church would then immediately experience immediately experience the same assistance of the same assistance of the Queen throughout the Queen throughout the whole world.the whole world.

(Mary of Agreda)

6.6. JESUS: JESUS: “I leave with you in “I leave with you in my stead my own Mother as my stead my own Mother as your Protectress, Consoler and your Protectress, Consoler and Advocate, and as your Mother, Advocate, and as your Mother, whom you are to hear and obey whom you are to hear and obey in all thingsin all things. Just as I have . Just as I have told you, that he who sees Me told you, that he who sees Me sees my Father, and he who sees my Father, and he who knows Me, knows also Him; so knows Me, knows also Him; so I now tell you, that I now tell you, that He who He who knows my Mother, knows Me; knows my Mother, knows Me; he who hears Her, hears Me; he who hears Her, hears Me; and who honors Her, honors and who honors Her, honors Me. All of you shall have Her Me. All of you shall have Her as your Mother,as your Mother, as your as your Superior and Head, so shall Superior and Head, so shall also your successors. also your successors. She shall She shall answer doubts, solve your answer doubts, solve your difficulties; in Her, those who difficulties; in Her, those who seek Me shall always find Me; seek Me shall always find Me; for I shall remain in Her until for I shall remain in Her until the end of the world.”the end of the world.” (Mary of (Mary of Agreda)Agreda)

The The PROTECTRESSPROTECTRESS

““This is the This is the Protectress of Protectress of the Church and the Church and the Intercessor the Intercessor of the faithful. of the faithful. Whoever shall Whoever shall call upon her call upon her from his heart from his heart and obtain her and obtain her intercession, intercession, shall secure for shall secure for himself eternal himself eternal life. What she life. What she asks of Us shall asks of Us shall be granted.”be granted.”(Mary of Agreda)(Mary of Agreda)

7. WORDS OF THE QUEEN7. WORDS OF THE QUEEN.. (The Virgin Mary (The Virgin Mary speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain.)speaks to Sister Mary of Agreda, Spain.)

My daughter, if anything could lessen the enjoyment of My daughter, if anything could lessen the enjoyment of the highest felicity and glory which I possess, and if, in it, the highest felicity and glory which I possess, and if, in it, I could be capable of any sorrow, without a doubt I would I could be capable of any sorrow, without a doubt I would be grieved to see the holy Church and the rest of the world be grieved to see the holy Church and the rest of the world in its present state of labor, notwithstanding that men in its present state of labor, notwithstanding that men know me to be their Mother, Advocate and Protectress in know me to be their Mother, Advocate and Protectress in heaven, ready to guide and assist them to eternal life. heaven, ready to guide and assist them to eternal life. In In this state of affairs, when the Almighty has granted me so this state of affairs, when the Almighty has granted me so many privileges as his Mother and when there are so many privileges as his Mother and when there are so many sources of help placed in my hands solely for the many sources of help placed in my hands solely for the benefit of mortals and belonging to me as the Mother of benefit of mortals and belonging to me as the Mother of clemency, it is a great cause of sorrow to me to see mortals clemency, it is a great cause of sorrow to me to see mortals force me to remain idle, and that, for want of calling upon force me to remain idle, and that, for want of calling upon me, so many souls should be lost. But if I cannot me, so many souls should be lost. But if I cannot experience grief now, I may justly complain of men, that experience grief now, I may justly complain of men, that they load themselves with eternal damnation and refuse they load themselves with eternal damnation and refuse me the glory of saving their souls.”me the glory of saving their souls.”

““How much my intercession and the power I have in How much my intercession and the power I have in heaven are worth has never been hidden in the Church, heaven are worth has never been hidden in the Church, for I have demonstrated my ability to save all by so many for I have demonstrated my ability to save all by so many thousands of miracles, prodigies and favors operated in thousands of miracles, prodigies and favors operated in behalf of those devoted to mebehalf of those devoted to me. . With those who have called With those who have called upon me in their needs I have always shown myself upon me in their needs I have always shown myself liberal, and the Lord has shown himself liberal to them on liberal, and the Lord has shown himself liberal to them on my accountmy account. . The Most High still wishes to give liberally of The Most High still wishes to give liberally of his infinite treasures and resolves to favor those who know his infinite treasures and resolves to favor those who know how to how to gain my intercession before Godgain my intercession before God. .

This is the secure way and the powerful This is the secure way and the powerful means of advancing the Church, of means of advancing the Church, of improving the Catholic reigns, of spreading improving the Catholic reigns, of spreading the faith, of furthering the welfare of families the faith, of furthering the welfare of families and of states, of bringing the souls to grace and of states, of bringing the souls to grace and to the friendship of Godand to the friendship of God.”.”