Mary Question from EWTN

[cthulhubryan]

At the suggestion of several posters here, I began watching Coming Home last night. There was the nice former Lutheran lady talking with a nice former Lutheran host and they were talking about Mary and the Pope making her “Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate” and they both seemed to think this was a good thing.

What does that all mean? I thought only Christ could redeem us?

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[chris_molter]

There are a lot of good posts on here about the title of co-redemptrix. Suffice to say that it does not imply that Mary is our redeemer. The latin prefix “co” implies “with” (as in cooperation or coordinate).

It is doubtful that the Church will make that a dogma, as it is unnecessary, but it is also not heretical.

 

[LilyM]

It should be stressed that without question all redemption and grace comes from God first and foremost. With that point firmly understood, we DO, in a small way, ACTIVELY co-operate with His grace, and in a similar way we ACTIVELY co-operate with His work of redemption. Making ALL of us co-redeemers.

Co- in the sense of a co-pilot, who occasionally doesn’t even get to touch the wheel but nonetheless ALWAYS, in at least a small way, helps pilot the plane.

If His sufferings redeemed us, and St Paul says ‘I make up in my flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ’, what does that actually mean Paul is doing? Is he not co-operating with Christ’s act of redemption, in an active sense, and thus acting as co-redeemer?

And if Mary is the human who most fully co-operated with God’s will and grace, then is she not also the one who is MOST co- of all co-redeemers?

 

[cthulhubryan]

okay. I think I understand. Co-redemptrix means that Mary is the original co-operator, not that she can redeem without Christ?

Again, thanks to everyone for putting up with my silly questions.

 

[chris_molter]

okay. I think I understand. Co-redemptrix means that Mary is the original co-operator, not that she can redeem without Christ?

Again, thanks to everyone for putting up with my silly questions.

Your questions are not at all silly. Before coming into full communion with the Church I had to research the same thing to be sure of what I was getting into!!

Technically we’re ALL co-redeemers since we must cooperate with God’s grace in order to be saved. The Blessed Mother just cooperated in the most perfect way possible for a human!

 

[cthulhubryan]

Your questions are not at all silly. Before coming into full communion with the Church I had to research the same thing to be sure of what I was getting into!!

Technically we’re ALL co-redeemers since we must cooperate with God’s grace in order to be saved. The Blessed Mother just cooperated in the most perfect way possible for a human!

Ok. Good. Thanks. You see, I have to have good answers and not just for me. I have to convince the wife and then I have to be able to discuss these things with my Mother who holds a Masters from Perkins Seminary in Dallas.

 

[COPLAND_3]

It should be stressed that without question all redemption and grace comes from God first and foremost. With that point firmly understood, we DO, in a small way, ACTIVELY co-operate with His grace, and in a similar way we ACTIVELY co-operate with His work of redemption. Making ALL of us co-redeemers.

Co- in the sense of a co-pilot, who occasionally doesn’t even get to touch the wheel but nonetheless ALWAYS, in at least a small way, helps pilot the plane.

If His sufferings redeemed us, and St Paul says ‘I make up in my flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ’, what does that actually mean Paul is doing? Is he not co-operating with Christ’s act of redemption, in an active sense, and thus acting as co-redeemer?

And if Mary is the human who most fully co-operated with God’s will and grace, then is she not also the one who is MOST co- of all co-redeemers?

Great answer!