Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Theologian predicts new dogma

He expects pope to declare Mary coredemptrix, mediatrix, advocate

STONY PLAIN — An American theologian is predicting Pope John Paul will soon issue an infallible proclamation declaring Mary to be coredemptrix, mediatrix and advocate.

"The proclamation will bring great graces to the Church," Mark Miravalle said in a June 3 talk at Ephphatha House, north of Stony Plain. More than 250 people attended the talk sponsored by Our Lady Queen of Peace Centre.

Miravalle, a theologian at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, is founder of the worldwide Vox Populi movement that has been urging the pope to proclaim the new dogma of Mary coredemptrix, mediatrix and advocate.

The group has submitted more than six million names on petitions from 160 countries in support of the dogma. The proposal also has the support of 550 bishops and 42 cardinals, the theologian said.

Miravalle has met with the pope six times. And while he won't divulge the contents of those discussions, he said, "My personal opinion is that (the proclamation of the dogma) is coming soon."

If it does, a period of grace will follow, he said. The proclamation will release Mary to be coredemptrix, mediatrix and advocate to us.

"The more Our Lady is invited by humanity, the more she can exercise her spiritual functions," he told the WCR after his talk. But until her titles are officially recognized, she cannot fully exercise functions on behalf of humanity.

If the dogma is declared, it will lead to a triumph of the Eucharist, he said. "Why? Because the Blessed Mother always leads us to her Son."

Miravalle noted that prior to the proclamation in 1950 of Mary's Assumption, some predicted it would have anti-ecumenical effects. Instead, the declaration was followed by the birth of the modern ecumenical movement.

Likewise, a few years after Pope John Paul and the world's bishops consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1984, Soviet communism collapsed without bloodshed.

The strongest objection to declaring the new dogma is that it would have a negative effect on ecumenical relations with other churches, he said. But true ecumenism does not involve doctrinal compromise.

Mary could turn out to play a major role in favour of Church unity, he said. "I do think it's time to give the mother a chance to act ecumenically."

In his talk, Miravalle said the Church's four existing Marian dogmas - her divine motherhood, perpetual virginity, Immaculate Conception and Assumption into heaven - refer to prerogatives unique to Mary.

None of them deal with "her relationship to you and to me." But she is our mother in three ways - as coredemptrix, mediatrix of all graces and advocate.

Miravalle said Pope John Paul has used the term "coredemptrix" six times. But the term does not mean that Mary's role in redemption is equal to that of Jesus. Rather, it means "the woman with the Redeemer." Mary was at the foot of the cross when Jesus performed his act of redemption.

St. Paul wrote that all must take part in the work of redemption by offering up our own suffering. Miravalle said the meaning of coredemption is that " Suffering has a value; suffering is not a waste."

Suffering can either turn into bitterness or it can turn into grace, he said. The difference lies in one's attitude - it can be redemptive if, like Mary, one says, "Let it be done unto me according to your word."

Mary is mediatrix of all graces, above all, because at the Annunciation the Holy Spirit overshadows her and she mediates God to the world.

Miravalle noted the writing of St. Maximilian Kolbe who saw the union between Mary and the Holy Spirit as deep and intimate. "The Spirit and the bride come and go together. If we are open to the Holy Spirit, we must be open to the Immaculate Heart."

Thus, Mary is the mediatrix of all graces because all graces come through the Holy Spirit, he said.

As advocate, Mary is "one who speaks on our behalf," he said. In the Old Testament, the queen was not the king's wife, for he had several, but his mother. If one wanted a special favour, it could best be obtained by asking the queen mother.

At the Visitation, Elizabeth identifies Mary as the queen mother when she says, "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

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