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Hi, Henry —
Thanks for the question.
Yes, She is the same person. Throughout history the Blessed Virgin Mary has made both public and private revelations to groups of people or individuals. In order to identify one appearance from another, the people, the Church, and secular history have identified her under one of many titles since her Glorious Assumption into Heaven.
Examples of other well known apparitions are:
There are also numerous towns, cities, states and countries who are named after her, like:
and there are various virtuous titles that are named after her like:
It's important to remember that these are titles of honor and nothing more; Catholics worship
Our Blessed Lord Jesus alone!!
We know when we pray to Mary, as attested to in the Scriptures, she will always lead us to her Son, not herself. (John 2:5) We say Jesus was the effective means of salvation; meaning Jesus packs the punch, but Mary is the instrumental means of salvation.
When you share the Gospel with a non-Christian, you are an instrumental means of salvation for them and because you are In Christ, you are a co-mediator (small c) with Jesus called to preach the Gospel to the world. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) In the same way, Mary was the instrumental means of salvation for all mankind.
Nevertheless, neither you nor Mary saved the non-Christian by yourselves, but both of you helped in assisting that non-Christian to know and learn about who Jesus is and the Catholic Church He founded on St. Peter and His successors.
- In what way is Mary the instrumental means of our salvation?
In the same way, the saints were. Mary had the same free will you and me do, so without her yes to the angel Gabriel and God the Father, the Father, respecting our free will, could not have sent His Son for our salvation by natural means. Mary's instrumental means was needed.
In the same way, the Gospel could have never lasted over 2,000 years after Our Lady's Assumption, without the yes from saints and martyrs of the Church to preserve and perpetuate the Catholic faith to this day.
Hope you don't mind the extra commentary,
Mike
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