Letter from Archbishop Felix Alaba Adeosin Job

His Excellency Archbishop Felix Job, Archbishop of Ibadan, is at this time the president of the Nigerian Conference of Catholic Bishops. We publish here Archbishop Job's enthusiastic letter of endorsement for the Fifth Marian dogma.

 -Ed. 

With great zeal and devotion I have participated over the years in the International Leaders Conference of Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici - an International Catholic Movement. As Pastor in the Catholic Church and Chief Pastor of the Arch­diocese of Ibadan, I have seen how a vibrant devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary has edified the faith of many faithful in our times. We know that devotion to Mary had its beginning in the infant Church through the ages to our present day. This Century, the Twentieth, which is now in its latter days, saw a welcomed boon in Marian apparitions as well as devotion. While some of the apparitions have mainly local approbations and recognition, some others have obtained universal recog­nition. We have seen many faithful daughters and sons of the Church grow in the knowledge, love and devotion of Mary. Pilgrimages to Marian shrines also abound.

Corresponding to God's graces through devotions and Marian apparitions, there is the need to further present for belief the dogma of the solemn definition the universal me­diation of Mary as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces, and Advocate for the People of God. Simply put, these titles are as a consequence of Mary's unique role as the Mother of Christ,the sole Redeemer of all. Mary is the true Mother of Jesus Christ who is God the Son made man. Lumen Gentium puts this beautifully when it states:

"She is endowed with the high office and dignity of the Mother of the Son of God, and therefore she is also the beloved daughter of the Father and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Because of this gift of sublime grace She far surpasses all creatures, both in heaven and on earth." (L.G. 53).

By virtue of her Motherhood, Mary has been endowed with immense and extremely high roles. Her whole life was a sharing in the redemptive mission of her Son. Her fiat at the Incarnation and her consent at Calvary to be the Mother of all whom her Son suffered and died for mark her media­tion, while at Cana she continues to plead for all the chil­dren of God.

Biblically and theologically, we see her as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate. In fact these titles convey our filial sentiments for Mary as our Mother. To us, Mary is the Coredemptrix, for she uniquely participated with her Son, Jesus Christ in the redemption of humanity. Mary is "Mediatrix" of all graces, meaning as Mother of the Re­deemer, she brings to the world the Source of All Graces granted by God to reach us through the unfailing interces­sion of Mary. Lastly, Mary as Advocate of all people ex­presses our faith in her role as one whose concern for each person is both maternal and unique. Again, She intercedes for us as she did in Cana.

These unique roles of our Blessed Mother deserve the at­tention and assent of the faithful. I am supportive of any au­thentic action in the Church that will confirm our faith in our Blessed Mother as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate. As we approach the Third Millennium of the Incarnation event, I pray the infallible definition of these roles of Mary accompany us in our faith journey. May Mary, the Mother of the Church, intercede for all her children in the third millennium.

                                                           + Most. Rev. Felix Alaba Adeosin Job

                                                                           Bishop of Ibadan, Nigeria