My 101 Reasons for Leaving the Catholic Church: Co-Mediatrix  What is it?: The ROSARY, prayed by faithful Catholics for centuries, includes fifty recitations of the prayer "Hail, Mary." The second part of this prayer is as follows: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death." This prayer to Mary for her assistance points toward the Catholic doctrine of the mediation of Mary. The Church teaches that from the most ancient times the Blessed VIRGIN has been honored with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninteruptedly... until the fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven [ASSUMPTION] she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation.... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix. Although Mary is deemed to be the Mother of mankind, the Church teaches that this in no way diminishes the unique mediation of Christ. According to Catholic theologian Scott Hahn, whereas Jesus mediates as High Priest between the Father and His children, Mary mediates as the queen-mother. On behalf of Jesus, Mary "mothers" his siblings. "When it comes to Mary's role in God's saving plan, 'mother' is not only a noun but a verb, and hence an office... So if you want to judge how well a person grasps the gospel in its essence, find out how much they make of having God as their Father - and Mary as their Mother." In effect, Jesus merited salvation for His children by His death on the cross. Through Mary, this redemption is applied to her children through her mediation. It is not by the MERIT of Mary that the Catholic is redeemed, but through the merit of Christ. "...the Blessed Virgin's salutory influence on men... flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ." How did it come about?: The ability of Mary to fulfill the role of mediator is traced back to the annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced that she would bear from her womb a son, Jesus. After Gabriel announced God's plan, Mary said "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." (Lk. 1:38). The Catholic Church places great importance on Mary's assent. The Catechism states: "By pronouncing her 'fiat' at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish." Mary, as the Mother of the Church is a "preeminent and ... wholly unique member of the Church"; indeed, she is the "exemplary realization" (typus) of the Church. Therefore, just as the Roman Catholic Church is a necessary mediator of the grace of salvation, so is Mary. Protestant teaching is that the grace of salvation is "immediate"; that is, that we receive eternal life directly from God, through faith. Why is it wrong: 1) ...because Mary is effectively given the attributes of deity, able to hear and respond to the prayers of millions of people; 2) ...because the "fiat" of Mary places the will of the creature above the will of God; 3) ...because Catholicism gives roles and titles to Mary that properly belong to the Holy Spirit Warnings from Scripture: "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" 1 Tim. 2:5. "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." Heb. 8:6. "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." Heb. 9:15. "[We come] to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven" Heb. 12:24-25.