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To: DungeonMaster
In mine at 374, practically any of the meanings of "Blessed" would fit with "Mary," ---- and ought to, since she herself said we would call her "Blessed." The only meanings that cannot fit are the ones that can apply to God alone.

If you would care to look at the prayers recited at the Mass--- in particular Nicene Creed, the Gloria, or the Sanctus --- you will see the kinds of titles or acclamations suitable for God alone: God as absolutely supreme and source of all that exists.

(Most of my posts contain links, and rarely do I see any evidence that anybody has actually gone to the links and learned something. But --- God being my witness--- I keep trying.)

Let's go through your list one by one:

Co mediator - I have never in my life called Mary "co-mediator". This term (or similar) is problematic because it invites misunderstanding: it could have both a doctrinally sound interpretation, and a heretical interpretation. It is not a dogma of the Church and has always been controversial within the Church (because it depends on how you interpret it.).

The sound interpretation would be that she intercedes, just as we all intercede for each other. A reference to her as Mother of Our Savior who offers intercessory prayers for us is the only correct understanding. The term "Mediatrix' is used only once in an official Church document, to my knowledge ---Lumen gentium --- and there it had this explanation:

"This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator."

In this sense, I can call you a mediator -- if you would be so good as to pray for me.

Co redeemer - the exact same things I said about “Co-Mediator” apply to this, i.e. it is not a dogma of the Church, I have never used it, it invites heretical interpretation, and it has always been controversial in the Church. For instance, in the Middle Ages, Franciscans were for it, Dominicans were against it. They used to debate it at the University of Paris: as I remember, the controversy got so rancorous that eventually the University rectors barred further argument and the term fell into disuse.

As Ott’s “Dogmatics” summarizes --- quoting St. Ambrose-- “the Passion of Christ did not need any assistance.”

Immaculately conceived - Kecharitomene. That’s got deep Biblical roots. I would trace it all the way back to Genesis 3:15 --- the woman with the pure Seed, our Savior Jesus Christ, who would defeat the Satanic serpent. If He is her Seed, she would have to be pure as He is pure, since He has His human nature from her.

Ever virgin - Ever-virgin is evidently what Mary intended to be. There’s no reason for her to say “How can this (conceiving a child) be, since I know not man?” ---if she thought she were soon to be “knowing” with Joseph! Plus, Scripture reveals that “her other children” means, Christian believers (Revelation 12:17 - “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”)

Dispenser of all graces - synonym for “Co-Mediator” and the same comments apply: Not a dogma, not defined, could be interpreted one way or another. I consider it problematic for those reasons.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 967-970 says, "No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source."

Queen of heaven - See relevant discussion on Queenship. It would be profitable for you to use your Concordance and look up all the OT verses on Queenship which prefigure Mary. All Scripture is good for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16).

Yadda yadda yadda - Since you concede my point that "blessed has many uses is true,” why don’t you use it in its proper sense when you talk or write about Mary? God evidently wants you to: it's part of Biblical prophecy.

613 posted on 03/30/2015 11:29:56 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("For behold, all generations will call me Blessed." - Mary of Nazareth, the handmaid of the Lord)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.

3. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, "Who can she possibly be?", for God had hidden her from them, or if he did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what he withheld.

5. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her "Woman" as if she were a stranger, although in his heart he esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only he may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding his dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged.

619 posted on 03/31/2015 4:59:18 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Is a Republican who won't call Obama a Muslim worthy of your vote?)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

6. I declare with the saints: Mary is the earthly paradise of Jesus Christ the new Adam, where he became man by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to accomplish in her wonders beyond our understanding. She is the vast and divine world of God where unutterable marvels and beauties are to be found. She is the magnificence of the Almighty where he hid his only Son, as in his own bosom, and with him everything that is most excellent and precious. What great and hidden things the all- powerful God has done for this wonderful creature, as she herself had to confess in spite of her great humility, “The Almighty has done great things for me.” The world does not know these things because it is incapable and unworthy of knowing them.

7. The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!


629 posted on 03/31/2015 5:55:19 AM PDT by DungeonMaster (Is a Republican who won't call Obama a Muslim worthy of your vote?)
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