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The relationship between the Holy Spirit and Mary is strong, and Saint Maximillian Kolbe (1894-1941) developed a Marian theology revealing this relationship.

The saint considered Mary’s preeminent place in God’s plan of salvation as cooperator with all divine graces.  They come to us from God the Father, and the Holy Spirit distributes them with Mary’s cooperation. She stated in Medjugorje during her apparition of October 25, 2015:

“Dear children! Also today, my prayer is for all of you, especially for all those who have become hard of heart to my call. You are living in the days of grace and are not conscious of the gifts which God is giving to you through my presence.”

The special relationship between Mary and the Holy Spirit emerged from Christ’s Incarnation by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son willed Mary united intimately to the Holy Spirit to become Christ mother. This union enabled her to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, as He wills, in grace distribution.

Kolbe examined Mary’s words to Bernadette at Lourdes, “I am the Immaculate Conception”.  Mary was conceived without sin and remained immaculate.  Kolbe said Mary is the created Immaculate Conception through the Father’s love and the Holy Spirit’s work to be uniquely filled with grace and destined to be Christ’s Mother.

The difference between Mary and the rest of humanity concerns grace, for God gave her a singular privilege at her conception making her the created Immaculate Conception and united her ineffably to the Holy Spirit to become Christ’s Mother. She cooperated with her Son’s redemptive death and cooperates with the Holy Spirit in the distribution of all grace merited by her Son.

The Holy Spirit is totally receptive to the love between the Father and the Son and makes this love fruitful outpouring it in infinite abundance.  Kolbe said, “The Holy Spirit made Mary fruitful, from the first instant of her existence, during her life, and for eternity.”

The singular privilege granted to Mary has a dual purpose: as Christ’s Mother, Mary is the Co-Redemptrix of humanity; as the Holy Spirit’s spouse, she shares in grace distribution.

All graces come from the Father, and the Holy Spirit distributes them with Mary’s cooperation, as He wills.  We respond to God’s graces through the Holy Spirit, and Mary may cooperate as our mediator before her divine spouse.

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