Memorial of Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces

During a pilgrimage in Poland led by the Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata,  a Catholic convert said, “I cannot in good conscience say this prayer written by St Maximilian Kolbe about Mary, ‘You are the “Mediatrix of All Graces’. This prayer is an example of Marian devotions gone too far.”

It is true that without God, Mary is nothing.  Vatican II in the Constitution on the Church taught us to “carefully avoid the false exaggeration on the one hand, and narrow-mindedness on the other when speaking of the the unique dignity of the Mother of God” (Lumen Gentium #67).  So, is Mary the Mediatrix of all graces or not?  The Council continues, “…true devotion consists neither in passing emotioon, nor in vain credulity. … Rather, it proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the excellence of the Mother of God, and are moved to a filial love toward our mother and to the imitation of her virtues (#67). 

What does true faith teach us about Mary as Mediatrix of all graces?  Listen to the popes. Pius IX tells us “God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation.”

Leo XIII writes that “Every grace that is communicated to this world has a threefold course. For by excellent order, it is dispensed from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, from the Virgin to us.”

Pius XI called Mary “treasurer of all graces.” 

Pope John Paul II in his teachings used the term “Mediatrix of All Graces” at least nine times.

Pope Benedict XVI prayed to “Mary Mediatrix of All Graces” on the very day he announced his retirement.

In today’s Mass of “Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces” we pray “Lord Jesus Christ, our Mediator with the Father, you have deigned to constitute the Blessed Virgin Mary, your Mother, our Mother and Mediatrix with you; grant that all those who turn to you to ask favors may rejoice to have obtained them through her.” 

Pope John Paul II said “the problem of our age is lack of devotion to Mary,” not false exaggeration or vain credulity.  Since the Holy Spirit gives all graces through Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, may we all, in the words of St. Bernard, “Look to the Star, Call upon Mary.”

 “All Graces? A Study of the Title ‘Mary Mediatrix of All Graces” by Steven Lovison

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=10176