TONY
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Dear Tony,
You are a bright boy. I concede your point that the woman in Rev 12 has a
collective significance. However as one exegete points out, "This
interpretation does not necessarily exclude any and all relevance to Mary;
it is entirely possible that John wrote from a twofold viewpoint, individual
as well as collective, implying at one and the same time the People of God,
the Church and Mary, the member of Israel who gave birth to the Messiah."
(Jerome Biblical Commentary, Vol II, p. 482)
At any rate, can we return to the question of Mary as an Intercesssor? Let
me restate the a fortiori argument with clearer examples:
If Jesus who is the "one mediator" (1 Tim 2:5) can allow us humans a role as
intercessors, is it not possible, a fortiori, that he could do the same for
the angels (Ps. 103:20-21;Ps. 148:1-2; Mt 18:10; Rev. 8:3-4) the saints
(Rev. 5:8; Hb 12:1) included among whom is "Mary the Mother of Jesus" who
met and prayed with the Apostles (Acts 1:14)? Notice the Bible says all
generations will call her blessed (Lk 1:48).
About the other points you raise (Mary Ever Virgin, Immaculate
Conception, infallibility of the pope, "pagan" customs) could I offer
you some URLs which present a different perspective?
God bless,
Fr. Phil Bloom
Mary, Mother of God (Bible & Early Church)