Mary Is Queen of Heaven, Not Pope (part 2)

National Catholic Register ^ | September 17, 2005 | Mark Shea

[Aquinasfan]

Problematic interpretation.

Catholic teaching is that Mary had no pain in childbirth (Rev 12:2) "Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth."

That's Catholic tradition, and it's a good point. I found this explanation:

At the primary level of symbolism, we can see this woman as representative of our Blessed Mother, who gave birth to our Lord. But in making this association, we do not apply every aspect or detail to her directly without qualification. For the suffering need not be a matter of physically giving birth, but of the sufferings the Mother of our Lord endured which reach a height as she stood beneath the cross upon which her Son died. Remember, the prophet Simeon had foretold that a sword of sorrow would pierce her heart. This allusion was not a matter of a physical sword but of spiritual and emotional suffering of a Mother, which is also physical.

Catholic tradition generally accepts both interpretations, "the woman" as representing both Mary and the Church, with the interpretation of "the woman" as Mary being preeminent.

This interpretation is preeminent because it would be inconsistent to interpret the child and dragon literally (as Jesus and the devil) and to interpret "the woman" metaphorically (as "the Church," rather than Mary).

Additionally, the Church recognizes the miraculous nature of Juan Diego's tilma. His tilma bears the image of Mary as the woman described in Revelation, "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars."

and that she only had one child (Rev 12:17) "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

That's not a problem because Catholics consider Mary to be the "New Eve." The baptized would be considered her "offspring."

More than likely, the woman symbolizes the messianic community - the OT "church" if you will.

See above. Also, How is it that the woman clothed with the sun mentioned in Revelations 12:1 is claimed to be the Virgin Mary by us Catholics?

[Revelation 911]

Catholics love, respect and honor their mother Mary for having said "yes" when God, through His messenger the Archangel Gabriel, asked her to be the Mother of our Lord. That "yes" brought into this world, our Savior. And, as he hung, nailed to the cross, He entrusted His mother to John and to us. Mary is due that honor, love and respect.

with regards to her conception and the notion of co-redeemer, the Catholic position is what ?

[Lilllabettt]

Regarding her conception, the Catholic position is that Christ Jesus saved her from ever being stained by sin, from the moment of her creation. Everything about her had to be pure, because she was going to give Christ his human body, his DNA, etc., and that had to be perfect.

Regarding the "co-redeemer" thing, Catholics are permitted freedom in what they think about that. Mother Teresa, for example, supported a movement to define the "co-redeemer" idea as a dogma of the Faith. Cardinal Ratzinger did not support that movement.

[HarleyD]

We got into this Queen of Heaven designation discussion here:

href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1472031/posts?page=36#36

[phatus maximus]

Regarding the "co-redeemer" thing, Catholics are permitted freedom in what they think about that. Mother Teresa, for example, supported a movement to define the "co-redeemer" idea as a dogma of the Faith. Cardinal Ratzinger did not support that movement.

Well, it's a good thing he did not...since it's technically contrary to the doctrine of salvation through Christ's death on the cross...