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Mark Miravalle on Mariology (or is it, Maryolarty?), part 1

This is an intro into a series dealing with Mark Marivalle’s studies into Mariology. As we progress you may be lead to ask whether his focus is actually Maryolatry.

This essay is meant to provide a sample, a taste, a window into the mind, logic, worldview, mis-interpretation methods and fallacious conclusions of personages who have placed Mary at the forefront of their devotion. As I demonstrated in my series on Mary in Roman Catholicism Mary is removed from that which the Bible states about her and the true, real, historical Mary is turned into something utterly foreign to reality; a pseudo-Mary of fanciful doctrine and dogma. Step by step Mary is turned into such a likeness of Jesus Christ that one begins to wonder why Jesus is in the picture at all.

Exampled within this essay is the manner in which Mark Miravalle deals with the text of John 19:26-27. We will see just what he, and Roman Catholicism in general, sees in two mere verses. But first, let us get to know of whom we speak.

In 1999 AD Mark Miravalle was selected as one of the Top 100 Catholics of the Century.
He is a deacon, how holds a Sacred Theological Doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the University of San Francisco, is a graduate of St. Ignatius Institute Catholic Great Books Program at the University of San Francisco, has a Sacred Theological License and a Sacred Theological Doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, he teaches at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, he is President of the international Catholic movement, Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici (Voice of the People for Mary Mediatrix) and has authored various on Mariology and “Marian private revelation.”

For some reason Mark Miravalle’s text is peppered with various colors (with footnote #s in lime green, quotations in brown and bold font, etc.) which I have not reproduced here and I have attached the footnotes via hyperlinks, I have kept the italics and bold when they appear outside of his bolding on quotations as a whole.1

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The Bible states:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

—(2nd Timothy 2:15).

Let us consider the full text of John 19:26-27 which takes place as Jesus is upon the cross,

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Now, what is this saying? What does this mean?
I am of the opinion that what it is saying and meaning is that when Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

To ask why? the statement was made takes us into the realm of speculation such as that Jesus did so because Joseph many have been deceased by this time (as he is not there). And/or that Jesus’ brothers and sisters were not, as of yet, believers. Etc., etc., etc. Yet, the point is all too simply Mary was losing one of her sons and Jesus was allotting her another (a fellow believer), John was losing a friend and Jesus was allotting him another.

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Now, we will see how Mark Miravalle deals with this simple, clear and straight forward text. But first, keep three things in mind: 1) He generally does not quote it but rather, makes an assertion and includes the citation at the end of his sentence. This gives the appearance that, that which he has just stated is a paraphrase or somehow directly drawn from the cited text. 2) For whatever reason, he generally cites John 19:26 without v. 27.

3) Note that perhaps the most significant aspect of the text, that which clearly denotes its simply, clear, straight forward and, significantly, down to Earth nature is that “From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”

Miravalle’s Marvelous Machinations
Since I consider the following comments as they come up in the series which follows I will merely list them here and dissect them later. Incidentally, in notations and citations “cf.” is an an abbreviation of the Latin word “confer” which refers to “consult” or “compare.”

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Because of her role as Coredemptrix with the Redeemer at the foot of the cross (cf. Jn 19:26)….

For Mary is the Coredemptrix who uniquely shares in the one mediation of Christ in accomplishing the redemption of the world and thereby, Mary uniquely shares in the one mediation of Christ in distributing to the People of God the “gifts of eternal salvation” obtained from the cross (cf. Jn 19:26)….

Mary’s role as Mediatrix with the Mediator in distributing the precious gifts of salvation[125] merited on the Cross is a gift given to the “Woman” at Calvary (cf. Jn 19:26)….

In calling his Mother, “Woman”, Jesus identifies Mary as the Woman who was prophesied as mediating to the world the seed of victory over Satan (cf. Gen 3:15), as well as designates his Mother as the Mediatrix who will be the Woman at the foot of the Cross (cf. Jn 19:26)….

But if Mary’s role as maternal Mediatrix is “outlined” in these earlier passages of the Word of God, it is “clearly stated and established”[144] at the foot of the cross….

Jn 19:26 – The Establishment of the Mediatrix of Graces…

“Woman, behold your son. …son, behold your mother” (Jn 19:26-27). These words of the dying Saviour to the Woman at the foot of the cross bring forth the establishment of Mary as the motherly mediatrix of graces for the human family….

At the very moment when the redemptive sacrifice for all humanity was being completed (cf. Jn 19:26-28), Jesus speaks these words to the Woman who once was known only as Mary of Nazareth: “Woman, behold your son” (Jn 19:26). And then to the beloved disciple, who represents all who seek to be beloved disciples of the Lord,[148] Jesus says, “son, behold your mother” (Jn 19:27)….

Mary is spiritual mother of all humanity…Pope Leo XIII identifies John at the foot of the cross as representing all humanity in general…“Now in John, according to the constant mind of the Church, Christ designated the whole human race, particularly those who were joined with him in faith,”…

[in footnote #151 Mark Miravalle notes that he cannot reach the] conclusion that all Patristic uses of the term “Mediatrix” necessarily refer to a commentary on Jn 19:26…Later Fathers are oftentimes more specific in their references to Mary as the mediatrix of the graces of redemption at Calvary…

the papal commentary of Jn 19:26 and Mediatrix of graces….

But if Mary’s role as maternal Mediatrix is “outlined” in these earlier passages of the Word of God, it is “clearly stated and established” at the foot of the cross….

Leo XIII tells us: “Now in John, according to the constant mind of the Church, Christ designated the whole human race, particularly those who were joined with him in faith.” And at Calvary, the whole human race receives the one who is appointed by the Mediator to be the spiritual “mother to us in the order of grace” in definitively becoming for us the “Mediatrix of Graces.”

Indeed, all of this, and more, being read into a text that very, very clearly could not even ever have imagined such implications. In fact, the text implies no such thing, this is mere fanciful and un-contextual inference.

Well, I trust that this goes to demonstrate the desperation and hermeneutically inappropriate nature of Mark Miravalle’s modis operandi. Sadly, when it comes to the hyper exaltation of Mary movement; he is not unique as this sort of confused concoction is all they have with which to work.

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