A Biblical-theological evaluation of the Roman Catholic teaching on Mary's role as a mediator

Abstract

There is no woman who has been more venerated than Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the history of the Christian church. In some Christian churches, Mary is regarded as blessed and favored by virtue of being the mother of the Savior Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel narratives, Mary was a young virgin chosen by God to be the mother of the Savior. Trusting God, she accepted with humility her parental responsibility like any other Jewish mother according to the custom of her time. One of the Christian churches, which have exceedingly venerated Mary, is the Roman Catholic Church. However, it seems that the Roman Catholic portrait of Mary significantly diverges from the descriptions found in the Bible. According to the Roman Catholic theology, Mary is currently in heaven where she officiates as an intercessor and a mediatrix, working together with Christ. She is really an important figure for Roman Catholics in their Christian experiences. They ask for help from Mary who is believed to be able to dispense all graces from her son, Jesus Christ. She is also believed to be an intercessor whose intercession is efficacious on behalf of those who ask her to pray for them. This thesis attempts to make a biblical-theological evaluation on the Roman Catholic view of the role of Mary as a mediator, based on the biblical teachings on the doctrine of mediation and its theological foundation. The interest of this study is to find out the basis of the Roman Catholic teaching on the role of Mary as a mediator. From the testimony of the Scriptures, mediation—in a strict sense—is an office that only Christ can occupy. He is the only one that can cover the gulf created by sin. He offered a perfect sacrifice that ended the priestly works of the Old Testament. He is in heaven mediating for His people as the High Priest. The Roman Catholic Church agrees that there is one Mediator, Jesus Christ, but they add that the fact that Jesus is the Mediator does not stop others from being mediators referring to Mary and the saints. This position seems to contradict the Scriptures and the theme of mediation.