It is a Doctrine of the Church although not Dogmatic, that she is already Co-redemptrix … The push you see is not to have her declared Doctrinally Co-redemptrix as this is already done but Dogmatically so that the doctrine itself can no longer be contested by the faithful in any manner.
The Blessed Virgin Mary: Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of All Graces, Advocate
FR Vince Bork
Fr. Bork is a priest in the diocese of Arlington, VA.
The author wholeheartedly submits all content to the teaching authority of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
MARY: Co-Redemptrix
What do we mean when we say that MARY is “co-redemptrix”? We call MARY “co-redemptrix” because her whole life was a sharing in the redemptive mission of her Son, which reached its climax at the foot of the Cross at Calvary.
Does not this seem to imply that JESUS did not redeem MARY? No, MARY was redeemed by JESUS in a prevenient and most perfect manner when she was conceived without original sin. Being free from any taint of sin, she had the full freedom to say “yes” to GOD’s request that she be the Mother of JESUS.
But doesn’t the prefix “co” seem to put MARY on the same level as JESUS? “Co-redemptrix” is a Latin word; the Latin prefix “co” comes from “cum”, which does not mean “equal to” but “with.” Mary’s sufferings are efficacious towards the redemption of man because they are wholly rooted in the redemptive graces of Christ and are perfectly united to His redeeming will.
How could JESUS be the sole source of our redemption if MARY had a share in GOD’s plan of redemption? GOD chooses to give man a share in His attributes and His works. Since GOD is infinite, His sharing of Himself does not reduce His glory, but rather lets it shine forth more resplendently.
So we can say that Mary’s role as Co-redemptrix does not take away from the glory of her Son, the Redeemer? Yes. MARY magnifies her Son’s glory by letting it shine forth resplendently through her. In God’s mysterious and merciful providence, He willed not only that man would be redeemed by the Blood of Christ, but that man would also be given a share in Jesus’ redemptive mission. As our “goodness” does not make GOD less good, neither does MARY’s share in GOD’s redemptive plan take away from JESUS’ unique role as Redeemer.
Are other people besides MARY called to share in the redemptive mission of JESUS? We, who are redeemed by Christ, are also called offer our sufferings to the Father in union with the sufferings of JESUS for the salvation of souls.
So then human suffering has meaning? In suffering we are most closely conformed with Christ insofar as we unite our will to His Will by which He accepted the Cross in perfect union with the will of our heavenly Father. GOD so inflates our love beyond our natural capacity with His own love that it is truly “not I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” We are co-Redeemers as we “make up for what is lacking in the Cross of Christ”.
If we are all co-redeemers, why should we give MARY special honor as Co-redemptrix? We, who are brethren of Christ, share in His suffering as members of His mystical body. MARY shared in His suffering in a special and singular way because of her own unique relationship within the mystical body of Christ as the Mother of JESUS Christ. Through her motherhood, the Son of GOD obtained His flesh and blood which He offered to the Father for our redemption. MARY cooperated with JESUS in a singular manner when she lovingly offered her maternal rights to the Father has JESUS offered Himself to the Father. She did not make this offering with resentment, but out of love for her Son and the sinners for whom He died.
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