Q&A: Is Mary an Obstacle? If we place Mary as an intermediary with God, that would seem to complicate the works . . . or doesn’t it?
Father Roger Charest, SMM
First, “we” are not placing Mary as an intermediary with God. God has established that order. “We” merely recognize an established order. The Almighty in His Providence has placed a good number of intermediaries between Himself and us. There is the Church, the priesthood, the sacraments.
St. Thomas Aquinas recalls this universal law in the words: “The execution of divine Providence is done by means of secondary causes.” Even such a common thing as water, does extraordinary things in the sacrament of Baptism. Without it, a dying infant cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. God is still the Author of grace. If He chooses to make the Baptism of water such a necessity, would you say that He does this to complicate our entry into heaven?
To the Blessed Virgin, God has given the qualities and power of a universal Mediator with Jesus Christ. St. Bernard once said: “This is the will of God, Who wished us to have all things through Mary” (T.D. 141). She is not to be looked upon as an intruder, an obstacle, but as part of the divine plan for the salvation of man. Whoever refuses Baptism, refuses grace, for Baptism has been determined by God a cause of grace. He who explicitly or implicitly revolts against Mary’s intervention, because it is too complicated, makes it impossible for himself to receive grace. And the words of Our Lord apply to this case: “He who rejects you, rejects me” (Luke 10:16) .
She is not to be looked upon as an intruder, an obstacle, but as part of the divine plan for the salvation of man.
Read more and obtain a better understanding of Mary in these articles: Mary Mediatrix, and Mary Necessary? Feel free to listen to a more fuller explanation on the Necessity of Mary audio.
