Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

Mary: Mediatrix of Mercy 171 ity with Christ, but this aberration is not a necessary consequence o f recognizing that there may be a truth striving for expression in words like Mediatrix and Co-redemptrix. All responsible theolo­ gians would agree that Mary’s co-redemptive role is subordinate and auxiliary to the central role o f Christ. But if she does have such a role, the more clearly we understand it, the better.7 The proper understanding of the “Christ the one Mediator” text o f 1 Tim 2:5 presupposes a critical and fundamental distinction: that the one and perfect mediation o f Jesus Christ does not prevent or prohibit, but rather provides and calls fo r a sharing and participation by others in a subordinate and secondary fashion in this one perfect mediation o f the Lord. Sacred Scripture reveals, in the context of several parallels, not only the possibility but in fact the obligation o f Christians to participate in that which is in the first place exclusively true o f Jesus Christ. We have for example, the one Sonship of Jesus Christ. There is only one true begotten Son o f the Father, He who is the Logos, the Word who became flesh. At the same time, we are called to become adopted sons o f God (cf. 2: Cor 5:17; 1 Jn 3:1; Jn 1:12; Gal 2:20; 2 Pet 1:4). Adopted sonship is a participation in the one Sonship of Jesus Christ. Another scriptural example is the one Priesthood o f Jesus Christ. Hebrews makes reference to the uniqueness and singularity o f Jesus Christ, the “high priest” (cf. Heb 3:1; 4:14; 5:10), who alone as Priest and Victim is offered “for the sanctification o f us all” (cf. Heb 10:10). At the same time, all Christians are called in different levels and degrees to partici­ pate in the one Priesthood o f Jesus Christ, whether that be the ordained ministerial priesthood or the royal priesthood o f the laity as discussed by the Council. Furthermore, the Second Vatican Council substantially establishes the legitimacy of subordinate mediation as a participation in the perfect mediation o f Jesus Christ, while confirming the fruit o f subordinate mediation as a manifestation of that which is uniquely true and depen­ dent upon the “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (cf. 1 Tim 2:5): No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood o f Christ is shared in various ways by both his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness o f God is radiated in different ways among his crea­