Bonaventure: …the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.
Ephem: …devotion to the divine Mother…is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.
Ambrose: …constantly pray ‘Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.
Fulgetius: …by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.
Athanasius: …And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.
Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.
Guerric: …he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there…and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.
Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.
Antoninus: …souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED.
He exalted Mary as MEDIATRIX and CO-REDEMPTRESS. In his general audience of December 13, 1995, he observed that the Vatican II Council applied the title of Mediatix to Mary and spoke of her “mediating role” and “her cooperation in a wholly singular way in the work of restoring supernatural life to souls” and “her exceptional role in the work of redemption” (“Council’s Teaching on Mary Is Rich and Positive,” Dec. 13, 1995, L’Osservatore Romano, English edition).
John Paul II even used the term “worship” to describe devotion to Mary. In his general audience of May 7, 1997, the Pope said that “MARIAN WORSHIP in the ecclesial community ... is based on the will of Christ” and “MARY IS THE PATH THAT LEADS TO CHRIST...” (Vatican Information Service, May 7, 1997). He concluded by urging all Christians to acknowledge Mary’s “providential role in the path of salvation.”
http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/john_paul_II_marys_in_life_and_death.html
Interesting references....puts a lot to contradiction of what otherwise is so often spoken by catholics today. I tend to think they don’t really understand what they’re being taught...and the vast amounts of information from their past just floods them sufficient to loose the Gospel Message itself.