“Mary’s ability to pray as intercessor is the same as your, my, or anybody’s ability to help others by intercessory prayer. Greater than mine, though, because of her great holiness: “Behold, all generations will call me blessed.””
False.
Mary has the identical holiness of any believer who has entrusted himself to Christ. The righteousness and holiness of Christ.
I agree with you here. I don't get how your statement contradicts mine.
All human holiness is because of a relationship of trust in God our Savior. It is identical in the sense that it is of the same kind: a dependent, derivative holiness which comes only as the gift of grace, and which is like the moon, in relation to the sun: a pale reflection, not the burning Source.
On the other hand, some people are holier than others. I think my husband is holier than I. I have no doubt my mother was holier than I. Mary was holier, too, because she was so intimately close to Christ, united because of her humility, her faith, her hearing the Word and keeping It--- the Word made flesh in her womb.
"All generations will call me blessed." That's true of Mary, not of me!