Catholic Position
¶969 “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues
uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the
Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the
cross, until the eternal fulfilment of all the elect. 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.”
¶494 At the announcement that she would give birth to “the Son of the
Most High” without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary
responded with the obedience of faith, certain that “with God nothing
will be impossible”: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be
[done] to me according to your word.” Thus, giving her consent to God’s
word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for
salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she
gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did
so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent
on him, by God’s grace:
As St. Irenaeus says, “Being obedient she became the cause of salvation
for herself and for the whole human race.”[141] Hence not a few of the
early Fathers gladly assert. . .: “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was
untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her
disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.” Comparing her with Eve, they
call Mary “the Mother of the living” and frequently claim: “Death
through Eve, life through Mary.”
Scripture Says
Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:9
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Isaiah 43:11
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Hosea 13:4
4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
2 Samuel 22:3
3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and
the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour;
thou savest me from violence.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Philippians 3:20
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Commentary
- How many saviors are there?
- Why would someone suggest that there are two saviors?
- If you were the one and only savior, would you be upset by man-made saviors?