Daughters of St. Paul

As a queen beside her Son, the King, Mary has tremendous powers to obtain graces for us.

Mary is the Mediatrix of grace. Saint Paul says that our Mediator is one - Jesus Christ who is the absolute Mediator; Mary is Mediatrix in union with and dependent upon Jesus, the Mediator.

Mediation is a way to unity. In means interposing oneself between two persons who are in disagreement in order to try to make them agree. In our case, we have the offended God and the guilty humanity. Jesus the Mediator has placed Himself between the two. The Mediator must be pleasing to both the offended and the offender. Jesus is pleasing to God because He Himself is God; and He is pleasing to humanity because besides being true God He also is true man.

Mary Most Holy is pleasing to both God and humanity. She is pleasing to God because she is the beloved Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Divine Son, and "Spouse of the Holy Spirit". She is pleasing to humanity because she is their spiritual mother. In a certain manner the merits of the Son belong to her, because He was able to merit them only in so far as He was man, while as God, he gave them an infinite value. It was Mary who gave Him his human existence and the possibility of gaining merits. For this reason, Mary has a great power. If Jesus is the font of grace, Mary participates in it with the greatest abundance. She is the one full of grace, and she draws from this fullness in order to distribute grace to us.

Mary's mediation is also based upon this, that having taken an active part in the Redemption and having suffered with Jesus for the salvation of mankind, this suffering of hers contributed to redeem mankind and to merit every grace for us.

Why is Mary called Dispensatrix of graces?

First: Because she gave to the world Jesus Christ, who is the author, the font of grace. Every grace is in the font, in the heart of Jesus. Every grace depends upon the cross of Jesus Christ. But who gave Jesus Christ to the world and in Him all the favors that He willed to give to mankind? Mary. Second: While still living, Mary showed herself to be the mediatrix of graces. After the Annunciation, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and upon arriving at their home, she sanctified the baptist through Jesus, her divine Son.

Then Mary showed herself powerful before God. At the wedding feast of Cana it almost seemed as though Jesus had given a negative answer to Mary's request, "they have no more wine," when He said, "My hour has not yet come." But Mary made that hour come and obtained the miracle. She said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you," and the water was changed into wine.

So, too, in the Cenacle, it was Mary who guided the apostles in prayer. She prayed with the apostles, and behold, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven. The Church was born and began its life and its march across the ages, winning every soul to Christ.

When we say that Mary dispenses grace, we refer above all to the work that she accomplishes in heaven. There, at the side of her Son in Paradise, Mary takes grace and gives it to humankind - dispensatrix of graces. She will obtain for us the state of grace. Before going to confession, let us say at least one Hail, Holy Queen: "Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your ayes of mercy towards us"...

Discouraged souls, turn to Mary. Sinners, who deeply feel your humiliation, turn to Mary. In doubts, in temptations, in the difficulties encountered every day, turn to Mary. Call upon Mary in every occasion, and turn to Mary as a child who is weak but is sure of having a good Mother to take care of him...

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