The problem with that is that the Holy Spirit never guides contrary to Scripture.
Then how do you explain the major differences in essential doctrines among the countless conflicting Protestant denominations? The one Spirit of truth cannot possibly be guiding them in their private interpretations of Scripture and be the cause of division. Let us not presuppose that there is more than one Spirit. But there are many fallen angels roaming about in our midst. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Zwingli, etc. each had his own guiding demon.
That teaching about co-redemptrix ascended from a deep pit, and the Holy Spirit isn’t down there.
The Church’s invocation of Mary as co-Redemptrix is biblical.
“And you yourself a sword will pierce, ‘so that’ the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Luke 2, 35
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of the body, which is the church.
Colossians 1, 24
In her flesh Mary filled up what was lacking in the afflictions of Christ by her spiritual suffering for the sake of our salvation. The Gospel of Luke reveals that Mary, by virtue of her Divine Maternity, had immersed herself in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. But she has no redemptive role of her own neither “with” nor “under” Christ. She acts “in” and “through” Christ in God’s plan of salvation. Her role is subordinate to that of Christ’s, but in itself it is not redemptive. Only Christ could have redeemed the world for, unlike Mary, he is in no need of redemption.
Still Mary is presented as significantly participating in our Lord’s redemptive sacrifice through the spiritual sufferings she would have to endure on account of the love she has for her divine Son, who terribly suffered and died for our salvation. In the faithful spirit of Abraham she willingly offered her Son back to the Father in the temple for our salvation. God chose no path other than the Incarnation to save us from sin. Hence, the Catholic Church does not teach that Mary’s role is co-redemptive, for she has no power to redeem and save the world. She has contributed to the redemption that Christ alone has achieved by helping our Lord save souls in like manner of the Apostles which calls for suffering together with our Lord and exemplified by him. By our baptism, we are called to immerse our acts in those of our Lord and Master in the work of salvation.
Jesus told his apostles at the Last Supper: “What I have done for you, so you must also do for each other.” Although we are saved strictly by the merits of Christ, our Lord desires that we assist him in his great sacrificial Act in the salvation of souls now that he alone has redeemed the world. Mary collaborates with God in his plan of salvation, and she is more closely associated with Jesus than any other of his disciples by virtue of her Divine Maternity. She did help redeem the world, without having to redeem the world herself together with Christ, by faithfully and lovingly obeying the will of God in the Annunciation. The Father spared Isaac, but not Jesus. Mary had to suffer the agony of witnessing the cruel death of her only beloved Son. She suffered so that Christ ‘would’ redeem us. But our Lord could have redeemed us without Mary’s participation if his heavenly Father had not willed that His Only-begotten Son be “made of a woman”.
Together with Elizabeth, who declared: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled,” we honour Mary for her great act of faith through love. Our Redeemer came into the world through Mary’s ‘Fiat’. God chose Mary because he knew she would say “Yes” to his will, that everyone be saved. Jesus refuses to save us without our love of God. “Faith through love” is essential for our salvation. To be saved we must cooperate with God’s grace now that Christ has redeemed the world from the sin of Adam and Eve. Our personal obedience to the will of God completes our salvation. We are called to fulfill the divine initiative. Mary had answered that call for our benefit. In the order of grace, Mary’s role as a disciple of Christ in the work of salvation is beyond compare.
“There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Ignatius of Antioch, To the Ephesians, 7 (c.A.D. 110)
“And thus also it was that the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.”
Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3:22 (A.D. 180)
The unbiblical Protestant concepts Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, and Sola Christu emerged from the deep pit. :yup:
Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. It was given the ‘key’ for the passage to the abyss.
Revelation 9, 1
PAX :harp:
