Where does Mary fit in?

Since today is the Feast of the Annunication, I thought I’d post a quick response to a recent question asked by a non-Catholic:

“1 Timothy 2:5 says ‘For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus’. How does Mary fit into this?”

Other Mediators

Initially, my friend’s objection seems quite valid. However, in it there lies a faulty assumption. He assumes that 1 Timothy 2:5 asserts the absolute, total and exclusive mediation of Jesus alone.

However, I have no doubt that, in times of trouble, he asks for the prayers of his friends, family and pastor. Now, when he does this, he is asking for them to stand in between him and God. In other words, he is asking for mediation. So the question isn’t so much how Mary fits in with this passage, but how his friends, family and pastor fit in!

Now, of course, this chap’s friends and family take nothing away from the mediation of Christ. Pope Leo explained it thus:

Undoubtedly the name and attributes of the absolute Mediator belong to no other than to Christ, for…. He restored the human race to the favor of the Heavenly Father… And yet, as the Angelic Doctor teaches, ‘there is no reason why certain others should not be called in a certain way mediators between God and man, that is to say, insofar as they cooperate by predisposing and ministering in the union of man with God’ (Summa, p. III, q. xxvi., articles 1, 2) – Pope Leo XIII, Fidentem piumque animum 3

By quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Leo tells us that nothing can replace Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In that sense, Jesus’ mediation is unique. However, His mediation is not to the complete exclusion of all others.

The will of God

If we go back a few verses and look at the beginning of the chapter we find Paul saying the following:

 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
– 1 Timothy 2:1

Here Paul urges that intercession be made for “all people”, especially for rulers. He’s asking Timothy and the local congregation to intercede for others. But wait, isn’t there only one mediator between God and men?

Clearly Paul doesn’t think that what he’s saying conflicts with the mediation of Christ. Neither does asking for the intercession of those who stand before the throne of God in Heaven. We are a family. We pray for one another.