Mary Mediatrix of all graces
Encyclopedia
"Mary, Mediatrix of all graces" is a title that some give to Mary the mother of Jesus, in line with a belief that all the graces that her son gives come through her.
of all graces. Eight years later, Belgian Redemptorist priest François Xavier Godts wrote a book proposing precisely that it be defined that Mary is the mediatrix of all graces. Désiré-Joseph Mercier
, Cardinal
Archbishop
of Mechelen, Belgium championed this cause. In 1921, Pope Benedict XV
, responding to petitions from Belgium
, including one signed by all its bishops, established the annual celebration in that country of a feast day of Mary Mediatrix of All Graces. In printings of the Roman Missal
from that date until 1961, the Mass
of Mary Mediatrix of All Graces is found in the appendix Missae pro aliquibus locis (Masses for Some Places), but not in the general calendar for use wherever the Roman Rite
is celebrated. Other Masses authorized for celebration in different places on the same day 31 May were those of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of All Saints and Mother of Fair Love and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Second Vatican Council
referred in its document Lumen Gentium
to Mary as "Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix". Some interpret this last word as referring not to some of the graces that Jesus has given and gives but to all of them.
Proposal for formal definition by the Catholic Church
In 1896, French Jesuit priest René-Marie de la Brosse published a proposal that the Pope should make a dogmatic definition about the role of Mary in the distribution of all graces, but did not require that it be in the form of declaring her to be the mediatrixMediatrix
Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvation process. It is a separate concept from Co-Redemptrix....
of all graces. Eight years later, Belgian Redemptorist priest François Xavier Godts wrote a book proposing precisely that it be defined that Mary is the mediatrix of all graces. Désiré-Joseph Mercier
Désiré-Joseph Mercier
-Early life and ordination:Désiré Mercier was born at the château du Castegier in Braine-l'Alleud, as the fifth of the seven children of Paul-Léon Mercier and his wife Anne-Marie Barbe Croquet....
, Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Mechelen, Belgium championed this cause. In 1921, Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
, responding to petitions from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, including one signed by all its bishops, established the annual celebration in that country of a feast day of Mary Mediatrix of All Graces. In printings of the Roman Missal
Roman Missal
The Roman Missal is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.-Situation before the Council of Trent:...
from that date until 1961, the Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
of Mary Mediatrix of All Graces is found in the appendix Missae pro aliquibus locis (Masses for Some Places), but not in the general calendar for use wherever the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
is celebrated. Other Masses authorized for celebration in different places on the same day 31 May were those of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of All Saints and Mother of Fair Love and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
referred in its document Lumen Gentium
Lumen Gentium
Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council. This dogmatic constitution was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964, following approval by the assembled bishops by a vote of 2,151 to 5...
to Mary as "Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix". Some interpret this last word as referring not to some of the graces that Jesus has given and gives but to all of them.