Also, one further point, the Marian dogmas of the west are highly linked to the Christology of John Duns Scotus of which the doctrine of the Absolute Primacy of Christ is central. It says that Christ the God-man would have come whether Adam sinned or not and that the Incarnation is in fact the very reason for creation so that there would be a human nature for God to unite himself to. This is also called the Franciscan thesis and it is the Franciscans who promoted the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, starting with ... Scotus. Thus, the Franciscan exaltation of Mary is merely the recognition that if Christ was the Primary thought of God in regard to creation then Mary would naturally be the second since she is the immediate creaturely instrument of bringing about the Incarnation.
This basis for the Marian dogmas offers some alleviation to the ecumenical concerns. In regard to the Protestant objection that focusing on Mary detracts form Jesus, it must be said that the Franciscan thesis upon which these doctrines are based are the most Christocentric position possible, bar none, including any Protestant Christology!! Any step away from Scotus' doctrine is a step away from the highest possible Christocentrism. Thus Marian-centric dogmas are fully compatible with Christo-centric dogmas, in fact, symbiotic.
In regard to the Eastern Orthodoxy, it is actually the Eastern Fathers that were stronger on this than the western (citation needed). St Augustine explicitly denied that Christ would have come if Adam had not sinned.
If you want to know more about the Absolute Primacy of Christ it is being discussed in great detail in the video series by Fr. Maximilian at Airmaria.com and in his book, available there. And it is very interesting indeed!! Especially the Biblical stuff.
Now I am going to bed!!!!
Oh, ... and the full Dogma as it is being proposed is not just Mary Coredemptrix but Coredemptrix, Mediatrix (of all Graces) and Advocate. But, I will let someone else deal with that.
I just have to get this stuff out to give everyone plenty to yell at me about while I sleep in tomorrow.
Happy Solemnity of the Ascension!! (Holy day of obligation in some(??) diocese...)
BTW when is Ascension in the Eastern Orthodox Church this year?
Now I am really going to sleep, . . . really! Thanks for your patience, Kolokotronis.
Mary Coredemtrix, Mediatrix and Advocate, Pray for me!!!
Ave Maria!
Yes, Friar Roderic, the Eastern thought on the Incarnation focuses especially on “theosis” or divinization of man in Christ. Christ comes as Mediator to elevate man to a participation in the divine nature (sin or no sin). Such names as St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Gregory of Nazienzen, St. Cyril of Alexandria, and St. Maximus the Confessor come to mind. To see a beautiful outline of the motive of the Incarnation from an Orthodox perspective see the article by Archpriest G. Florovsky called “Cur Deus Homo?” on 10/20/2006 at http://www.ad-orientem.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html
As you noted, this places Mary Theotokos above all creatures as the unique Mediatrix with Christ the one Mediator. She is second only to Christ and her role depends entirely upon the one mediation of Christ the High Priest.
God bless...