Mediatrix of All Graces

It is not uncommon to hear disdaining remarks regarding the Marian doctrine from protestants. This verifies the importance of being ready to defend the truth of the faith at a moments notice. To me, this is an overwhelming task, especially in a culture that is secularized to the point that it accepts same sex "marriage" as a legal right among other atrocities our culture has allowed.  I was having a discussion recently with a friend of mine on the very issue of beefing up your knowledge-base of defensive rebuttals against LGBT and marriage issues. We both felt the weight of the realization that you almost have to be an expert on many topics to present valid arguments.

I have realized however, that most people are not interested in respectful debate. Rather, they are more likely to get emotionally charged and blast you for not being tolerant and call you a bigot for not being accepting of someone's blatant sinful lifestyle. 

This brings up the point of needing to at least have some sort of quick response to a charge made against your belief. It is good to know many details on any given topic; whether it be an apologetic on Marian doctrines or defense of natural marriage. But it goes without saying that if you have nothing to say on any hot button topic and cannot give a cogent argument to give credence to your claim, then you simply are going to get annihilated in a conversation at the water cooler at work. 

With that said I will be posting blogs that will provide cursory responses to various issues as well as Catholic teachings to add to your truth armory. I don't intend to go into an in depth exposition and analysis of topics, but I do hope to provide solid info from sources that are tested and approved by the magisterium. That is it wont be anything new, which what us traditional Catholics prefer. Boring old never changing truth as presented by the Bible and tradition. 

My goal is to keep these post real, with few embellishments on my end. Especially, since it has been brought to my attention from a holy priest, that bloggers are to be very careful what they write, since they will be judged more strictly on the things they present. Therefore, accurate teaching is my aim and if anyone sees error, please make it known to me -I promise to receive it humbly.

The first article I will try my hand at packaging for you is the belief in the Mediatrix of all Graces.
Lets dig into it.

Scripture
The dogma of Mary as the Mediatrix of All Graces, takes its origin from the prophecy concerning Mary in Ecclesiasticus 24. It reads: “I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. ” (Sirach 24:24–25) You can note the reference that "in me is all grace". This is the first declaration of her title.

Next, we look at the New Testament where Simeon prophesies Mary's future passion with her Son.
“And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35).

Tradition
There are other concepts that need to be developed before we can condense this into a short explanation. The first concepts from this later verse and the other events we read in scripture, specifically the passion with mary present, indicate her role and participation with Christ in the action of our redemption.

We also must continually remember that without Mary's work of developing Christ in her womb, nourishing Him and rearing Him, there would be no spotless victim to sacrifice.
Essentially her actions in the participation of our redemption can be juxtaposed to that of the actions of Christ in all the major events of his Ministry. Her mediation has its origin, execution and consummation in the incarnation, the life and ministry of Christ, and after His death. "Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."(CCC p969) In some particular way Mary is there in the backdrop supporting her Son whichever way is appropriate. 

Therefore, resulting in this complete participation, she is the Mediatrix of all Graces. It was Gods will and Mary's embracing of that will that made it all possible. She did not merely accept His will, but embraced it with joy and enthusiasm. "Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exaltavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo". What a wonderful example for us in our sufferings, that we too should embrace God's will for us, that we can have a more abundant harvest of graces. 

"In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior's work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace."(CCC, p968)

Jesus is the new Adam and Mary the new Eve who acquired our salvation, just as the original Adam and Eve were the instruments of our removal of sanctifying grace and ultimately our restriction from Heaven (Baltimore Catechism). 

Saints
St. Bernard says “Mary most holy is His appointed steward and the generous bestower of the treasures of His mercy.” St. Louis de Montforts monumental work True Devotion to Mary is what St. John Paull II calls our guide for remaining in the limits of sound Marian doctorine, which Lumen Gentium encourages. 

Megesterium
Steven Lovison provides many quotes from Popes who have acclaimed Mary's title and role. Some of them include:
Pius VII called her “Dispensatrix of all graces.”
Pius IX tells us “God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation.”
St. Pius X, in his encyclical Ad Diem Illium which he wrote after study of the writings of St Louis de Montfort taught Mary is the “Dispensatrix of all the gifts which Jesus gained for us by His death.

Benedict XV says “together with Christ she has redeemed the human race . . . for this reason every kind of grace that we receive from the treasury of the Redemption is ministered as it were through the hands of the same sorrowful Virgin.”

"Pope Paul VI used the specific term “Mediatrix of All Graces” at least nine times and taught the doctrine indirectly in many other ways."

These are the antecedence to the title Mediatrix of all Graces. Now this dogma can be researched in great depth; which other have done, but this is the meat and potatoes of it. Could God have gained our redemption some other way? Absolutely. This was His will however, to have Mary as a key player in this act.

So if you are posed with the question:
How is Mary the Mediatrix of all Graces?

You may respond:
By her Holiness, Fiat (that is her embracing of Gods will), raising of our Lord, her participation in our redemption by her support, and suffering with Jesus, she is the Mediatrix of All Graces.

For a more detailed explanation, see the following links:
Taylor Marshal

EWTN

http://www.fifthmariandogma.com/co-redemptrix-fifth-marian-dogma/mary-mediatrix-of-all-graces-part-ii/

www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=10176 

My goal was to be concise; however, since this doctrine is so controversial and loaded with context, I felt it needed some embelishment.