How did St. Irenaeus compare Mary’s obedience with Eve’s disobedience?

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Antonello da Messina: Madonna and Child — Mary *Madonna and Child*, oil and tempera on panel by Antonello da Messina, 1475; in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Writing at the end of the 2nd century, St. Irenaeus established a theological parallel between Eve and Mary to explain the role of obedience in the redemption of humanity. He contrasted the disobedience of Eve, who as a virgin had rejected the word of God, with the obedience of Mary, who as a virgin accepted it.1

Irenaeus viewed this as a necessary restoration: just as humanity had died through the disobedience of the first woman, it was saved through the obedience of the second. By acting as an advocate for Eve, Mary’s "virginal obedience" served to undo and destroy the "virginal disobedience" of Eve. Through this framework, Irenaeus ascribed to Mary an active participation in the life that made the salvation of the human race possible.1