Mary as Intercessor-Set me Straight

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So I am currently having difficulty in figuring out Mary’s true position as intercessor. I have spent a while in the Protestant tradition and have lost the Catholic teaching on Her as intercessor.

Could someone set me straight? I am currently under the impression that Jesus is the only One who intercedes on our behalf.

And I am not trying to goad any catholics into an argument, I need real, Truthful, and honest answers please.🙂
 
Do you pray for other people? if you do, you are being an intercessor on their behalf.

Christ’s mediation is not the same as our (and in “our” I include Mary’s) intercession.
 
1ke said:
Do you pray for other people? if you do, you are being an intercessor on their behalf.

Christ’s mediation is not the same as our (and in “our” I include Mary’s) intercession.
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Affirmative. That is exactly what I needed. We all including Mary pray to Jesus, he mediates on behalf of us to God. And of course this includes Saints too?

So my next question is do we go to Mary more than any other Saint? and if so…why?

BTW thanks for the swift no frills answer
 
St. James 5:16 “Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.”

Our Lady’s prayers are the most powerful of any saint because her earthly life was the most holy. This is because is pleased Almightly God to preserve her alone (of all humans since the Fall of Man) from Original Sin, in order that she might be the perfect Ark of the New Covenant.

However, because the merits of the other saints are quite real, it helps us to go to them also, asking for their prayers before God on our behalf.

Does that help?
 
SonSearcher said:
So I am currently having difficulty in figuring out Mary’s true position as intercessor. I have spent a while in the Protestant tradition and have lost the Catholic teaching on Her as intercessor.

Could someone set me straight? I am currently under the impression that Jesus is the only One who intercedes on our behalf.

And I am not trying to goad any catholics into an argument, I need real, Truthful, and honest answers please.🙂
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I struggled with this too coming from a Protestant background. As a previous poster noted, what resolved the issue for me was grasping the difference between “intercessor” and “mediator.” We have only one mediator and that is Christ. As both divine and human, Christ as mediator bridges heaven and Earth for us and presents our prayers to the Father.

Mary serves in the role of intercessor, one who makes requests on the behalf of another. Just as we often ask others to pray for us (intercede) we can ask the same of Mary. Since she is in the presence of her son Christ, it is difficult to think of anyone better to have as an intercessor.

It is only right that Mary is venerated more than the other saints. As the mother of Christ she is worthy of first honors.

Interestingly, just last week at a Catholic Men’s Conference I learned from one of the presentations that the way Catholics venerate Mary was the way things were even with Protestants after the Reformation. It was many years later that honoring Mary ceased to be a part of the doctrine of many Protestant churches.

Having found peace now with my own struggles I now find that the veneration of the Blessed Mother adds another measure of fullness to my relationship with Christ and I now include the Hail Mary in my daily prayers because it gives me such peace.
 
At my wifes RCIA class a good friend (an instuctor) had to answer my wife about the same issue. She told my wife " when we are children and are feeling ill, who do we go to? when we are in trouble or dont know an answer who do we go to?" We turn to our mother. The Blessed Mary is mother to us all. She speaks on our behalf. What a great mother she is!!!
 
Also a Protestant convert. Honestly, I wouldn’t be as concerned with her title as intercessor, especially considering the fact that the title “mediatrix” could be dogmatically defined during this generation (there is a lot of belief that it will be). I think that a lot of people too quickly confront this argument by dividing the two words, “intercessor” and “mediator”, into two separate categories, as if there is a vast category separating the two. The truth is, anybody who goes between two parties in an attempt to reconcile is a mediator.

So any time we request others to pray for us, especially when we’re struggling with a particular sin, it’s arguable that they are mediating for us. For this reason, one might say that this is an issue with all denominations of Christianity, not just Catholics. What’s our answer, then?

I had to come by this answer myself during my conversion, but, luckily, Steve Ray has got your back! catholic-convert.com/2011/02/16/mary-a-mediatrix-isnt-there-just-one/
 
Rich_C said:
St. James 5:16 “Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.”

Our Lady’s prayers are the most powerful of any saint because her earthly life was the most holy. This is because is pleased Almightly God to preserve her alone (of all humans since the Fall of Man) from Original Sin, in order that she might be the perfect Ark of the New Covenant.

However, because the merits of the other saints are quite real, it helps us to go to them also, asking for their prayers before God on our behalf.

Does that help?
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It helps a little just need some clarifying.

The other poster said that the Saints go to Jesus to ask for mediation not to God.
 
SonSearcher said:
It helps a little just need some clarifying.

The other poster said that the Saints go to Jesus to ask for mediation not to God.
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As you know, Jesus is God, the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity! The Three Persons are one God. 🙂
 
SonSearcher said:
It helps a little just need some clarifying.

The other poster said that the Saints go to Jesus to ask for mediation not to God.
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That’s a contradiction of sorts. Our Lord Jesus is the second person of the Blessed Trinity; He is God. When you say “God” to you mean the Father?

Jesus mediates for us through His sacrifice completed on the cross and represented at every Mass. That is important but it does mean his mediation means we may not address our prayers to the other Persons of the Blessed Trinity.

Our Lord Himself gave us a prayer that address God the Father, and the entire Mass is directed toward the Father, so I think you may be over thinking it. Certainly theologians have important distinctions for these things, but I’ve been taught that ordinary Catholic ought to not worry so much about this, since all three Persons are still one God.
 
SonSearcher said:
Affirmative. That is exactly what I needed. We all including Mary pray to Jesus, he mediates on behalf of us to God. And of course this includes Saints too?

So my next question is do we go to Mary more than any other Saint? and if so…why?

BTW thanks for the swift no frills answer
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In what sense does Jesus mediate with G-d in Catholicism (and Christianity, in general) if Jesus is believed to be G-d? Do you mean Jesus’ human self mediates with His divine self? Or does one Person of G-d (the Son) mediate with another Person of G-d (the Father)?
 
meltzerboy said:
In what sense does Jesus mediate with G-d in Catholicism (and Christianity, in general) if Jesus is believed to be G-d? Do you mean Jesus’ human self mediates with His divine self? Or does one Person of G-d (the Son) mediate with another Person of G-d (the Father)?
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Someone else get this. I can’t expand a decent answer.
 
meltzerboy said:
In what sense does Jesus mediate with G-d in Catholicism (and Christianity, in general) if Jesus is believed to be G-d? Do you mean Jesus’ human self mediates with His divine self? Or does one Person of G-d (the Son) mediate with another Person of G-d (the Father)?
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As a Catholic, this is my understanding:

Jesus Christ the Lord (Second Person of the Blessed Trinity) brings us to the Father due to Jesus’ obedience and ultimate sacrifice of Himself to the Father. We get to the Father through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I am not theologically articulate, and I welcome those who are to give their (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
Dorothy said:
As a Catholic, this is my understanding:

Jesus Christ the Lord (Second Person of the Blessed Trinity) brings us to the Father due to Jesus’ obedience and ultimate sacrifice of Himself to the Father. We get to the Father through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I am not theologically articulate, and I welcome those who are to give their (name removed by moderator)ut.
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Thank you for the information. Why though do we have to get to the Father? Isn’t Jesus believed to be co-equal to the Father?
 
I don’t believe we have to go through anyone to get to God. He is always accessible. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the trinity. We can pray directly to God and ask him anything because he is our Father. When Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, he made this possible.
We ask Mary and the saints to pray for / intercede for us.

Am I wrong?:confused:
 
Here are some quotes from the Saints regarding the Virgin Mary’s role as intercessor:

“Those who have great devotion to Mary not only will be saved, but also will, through her intercession, become great Saints. Furthermore, their holiness will grow from day to day .”- Saint Vincent Pallotti

“When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.” - Saint John Vianney

“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.”- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

“The Blessed Virgin Mary has the power of delivering souls from purgatory by her prayers, and by applying her merits for them. This is especially true for souls that were devoted to her on earth.” - Saint Bernardine of Siena

“Take shelter under our Lady’s mantle, and do not fear. She will give you all you need. She is very rich, and besides is so very generous with her children. So take advantage without fear and with complete confidence, whenever you need anything. She loves giving.” - St. Raphaela Mary

And I end with this quote:

“The reason why Christ is unknown today is because His Mother is unknown.” - Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman
 
Bix said:
I don’t believe we have to go through anyone to get to God. He is always accessible. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- the trinity. We can pray directly to God and ask him anything because he is our Father. When Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, he made this possible.
We ask Mary and the saints to pray for / intercede for us.

Am I wrong?:confused:
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I don’t believe you are wrong. 🙂 Theological terms are hard to explain for me as a layperson. When I said Jesus takes us to the Father I am trying to convey that his Redemption for us allows us to get to the Beatific Vision (Heaven), which actually consists of being face to face with the Trinity…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Of course, we do have to cooperate freely with the grace He has purchased for us!
 
prettiefly said:
Here are some quotes from the Saints regarding the Virgin Mary’s role as intercessor:

“Those who have great devotion to Mary not only will be saved, but also will, through her intercession, become great Saints. Furthermore, their holiness will grow from day to day .”- Saint Vincent Pallotti

“When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.” - Saint John Vianney

“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.”- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

“The Blessed Virgin Mary has the power of delivering souls from purgatory by her prayers, and by applying her merits for them. This is especially true for souls that were devoted to her on earth.” - Saint Bernardine of Siena

“Take shelter under our Lady’s mantle, and do not fear. She will give you all you need. She is very rich, and besides is so very generous with her children. So take advantage without fear and with complete confidence, whenever you need anything. She loves giving.” - St. Raphaela Mary

And I end with this quote:

“The reason why Christ is unknown today is because His Mother is unknown.” - Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman
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And that is a good reminder for Catholics! Sometimes it is even hard for them to fully understand Mary’s role as the New Eve, a symbol for the Church, and our Mother as the perfect disciple that we should imitate! St. Louis Marie de Montfort explains this in his book “True Devotion to Mary”. I see it around a lot lately, and many priests are promoting it.

When we do everything in Mary, for Mary, with Mary,and by Mary we are drawing closer to her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to imitate Jesus who is All for us, and Jesus loves His Mother! All the good she has comes from Him!
 
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