This thought brings me to the question of the Assumption. Again, having read the Dogma on the Assumption a few things stand out that this Dogma is rooted in Divine Revelation. However, I must admit by saying this I am also confirming my belief in what the Catholic Church teaches ( I am Catholic after all) that Revelation comes to us through Scripture and Sacred Tradition. However, from what I understand, although it is not specifically written in the NT the Dogma of the Assumption does have a scriptural foundation (by the way, as Benedict XVI points out in more than one of his writings - Chapter 5 of his "Introduction to Christianity for example - There is no specific mention of the Trinity but this Dogma is rooted in the Tradition of the Church and is found throughout the OT and NT). From what I have read the foundational principle of the Assumption is Christ’s Resurrection. This is the only way the Assumption can be understood, again not as something merited but by special favor (Grace) given to Mary. St Paul’s writings are full of references to our belief in the Resurrection and in the Resurrection is belief that we do not die, life has not ended but merely changed. So in praying to Mary, we are not praying to a dead person, but one who is truely alive. (This my sound a bit cynical, but for those who reject the Assumption on the grounds that it cannot be found in the NT, how do they know the Assumption did not occur until after the Gospels were written?). The belief in the Dogma of the Assumption is rooted in the Resurrection, then I would think it is scriptually based. Also, and this is where my Catholic belief comes in, the Assumption has been a belief in the Church from very ancient times. I am not talking about pious stories but has been proclaimed in the Liturgies of both the East and Western Church. Would the Holy Spirit allow this in the Liturgies of the Church of both East and Western from ancient times if it was not so?
Also, along the lines that Christ is the Way to the Father thus is the sole mediator, first I agree that is how it is. But a couple more points on Mary. As I wrote above, for most Christians we do practice in our every day lives mediation by others. However, Christ already pointed out that this is not wrong. Wasn’t Christ answer to his disciples, when they were unable to exorcise a particular demon that the only way acheive the exorcism (and others like that one) was through prayer and sacrifice? This to me sounds like mediation on the part of his disciples.
Also, I think the concept of mediation is often too one way, that is Man through Christ to the Father. But doesn’t mediation work both ways. Doesn’t the Triune God work through human instruments as well? Most of us here in this forum were born into a Christian Family. Isn’t this the mediation of God to us through human instruments? Wasn’t our Catholic/Christian given to us through human mediation, from parents, teachers people who have inspired us either by their lives or writings or teachings? I think this is another way in which I should look at Mary’s role as mediator. Above I wrote how Mary has served as a guide for ones life to accept God’s will and grow in the understanding of what it means to accept the will of God in my life, I think I pointed out how this type of mediation of Mary is scripturally based.
Also, in God’s plan for us, the first mediator I know we should experience is our mother. Did not Jesus give Mary to us to be our mother in John 19 vs.26-27? In light of this and as I wrote earlier that Mary was the one who Luke has present at the birth of Christ and the Church (Acs) I think there is a scriptural basis for calling Mary the Mother of the Church especially in light that the Church is the Body of Christ, and at Saul’s conversion Christ told Saul that he was persecuting Him (Christ Jesus) when Saul was persecuting the Church.
Is Mary omnipotant? My answer is yes with the understanding that all power she may have is not hers but God’s. Here I would say there is a strong scriptural base as found in the Canticle of Mary (Lk 1: 46 -55) Here Mary is acknowledges that all her power, if power is the correct term, comes from God’s greatness and what he has done for her. She is just His handmaid, but isn’t this the lesson of greatness that Jesus taught the Twelve when he washed their feet?
We are humans, and as such far from perfect. The veneration of Mary, I admit, at times seems like worship or magic and yes this could be a terrible distraction. But this is not the true role the Church understands and teaches about Mary. Not to understand the Church’s true teachings but to hold onto misconceptions, perhaps based on prejudice, for me is not the right thing to do.
I think the best example of Mary and her role in the Church is found in scripture itself, John 2 vs. 5.
