Common Question on Mary
Question:
How can we pray to Mary when St.Paul tells us that Jesus Christ is the “one mediator between God and men”?
Answer:
Jesus Christ is indeed our principal Mediator. However, there may be secondary mediators. Mary is one of these mediators.
The practice of asking the prayers of others (secondary mediators) is common sense. We have all asked friends to speak on our behalf at some time or other. It may be to obtain an increase in our salary or to find a place in a kindergarten for one of the children or to get a good price on something we are buying…….In praying to Mary, we are asking her to speak to her Son on our behalf. So He is still the Principal Mediator with God.
Further, Mary has the God-given role of mother – Mother of Christ and Mother of all who are united to him. Just as Jesus sought her comfort and care during his life on earth, so we who follow him should also turn to her in our needs, confident of her motherly concern for us.
2 comments:
Interesting...
I understand what you are saying. Asking for intercession makes a lot of sense. But how do you pick who to pray to? Two prayers to Jesus for every Mary? Exclusively Mary? What about prayers in the Holy Spirit?
Would be interested in the answer. :)
Hello! ok this is my personal answer... I have asked the other YAM people to think about it too. It's usually hard to explain, much less convince.. haha..and sorry this is quite a long answer!!!
I would say, it doesn't have to be a fixed thing like i pray to mother mary and jesus all the time. It varies, and we can also pray via the Holy Spirit.
So in all ways, we see Jesus as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So when we pray via Mary, we are acknowledging Jesus the Son. When we pray in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit. And conversely, when we pray to God, it's just like... - God.
Either way, it is the same trinity.
Mary just happens to be closest to Jesus being the mother of jesus. So therefore she has always been mentioned greatly and widely...
Well, I could also pick my best friend and spiritual mentor to pray for me each time i have some problems... that spiritual mentor, i pick because I feel close, understood... and maybe, i can relate to him or her.
IN the same way, many people relate to Mary. Either, as a mother figure, a womanly/gentle figure, or an obedient humble 'handmaid' of the Lord. They see her as inspiration to walk the faith and say YES to God. So if we are facing an issue like... how to say Yes to God, and we pray, we can direct the prayer to Mary. Mary is not dead, she is as much a living entity in heaven right? So she can hear our prayers and pray for grace for us... When that happens, Jesus is ultimately the grace giver.. and so just like the wedding in Cana, when Mary asked, Jesus obliged His mother. And so we are given the grace to say YES like Mary did.
So sometimes, people say, asking Mary's intercession is powerful.
This is just a pseudo example here.. and it is not something scientific so it varies in all cases and all variables (together with all the unseen motives, amount of faith, and love for God within the human heart).
On the other hand, many people also actually do not relate to Mary... and rather, they relate to Jesus. So by all means.. they pray to Jesus.
Some people also do not believe very much in praying to the Holy Spirit. So their prayers are all to GOD or Jesus. So... in that way... nothing is wrong, it is just preference...
Either way, praying to Mary, is really, asking for her prayers for us when we are in need of Jesus.
For me, I sometimes pray the Hail Mary at times when i feel really far away from Jesus.. like feeling guilty, or feeling like I had done something bad to him... like a child, I go to his mother, and ask her,... help me tell Jesus that I am sorry!!! If u picture it like you and a good friend... and let's say u can't get to your friend... you call the house and the mother picks up the phone, so you relay your message to her instead. Meanwhile, your friend appears by your side, and says, hey, I have heard you talking to my mother... i know what you said..
Hmm so do u get my line of thought? Jesus is always there.. it's US who are not able to face up to him at times.
So lastly, we pray via Mary because of her Great love for JESUS, so by praying to Jesus and Mary, Mary will pray TOGETHER with us for it too.
So hope this helps! ;) Let me know also if i didn't answer the question.
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