Why is Mary called Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix?

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The prefix “co” here is in the sense of cooperating with. It does not mean “co-equal.” I’m a sense, we can all be co-redemtors by cooperating with Christ, by letting Christ live in us, and preaching the gospel. Mary has a unique role in salvation history in consenting to bearing the Incarnation, raising Jesus, following him, and pointing us to him, and this is recognized, among other titles, with the title co-redemptrix.

I am less familiar with mediatrix. As far as I understand it, it is pleasing to him to involve her in distributing all graces. Not that she’s the source, but as the Queen Mother she intercedes with prayer always for all Christians and people for their conversion. And she is an exemplary Christian, an arch-type of the Church, and among all the saints is the closest to God.
 
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I don’t believe “co-redemptrix” is an officially approved Marian title, and I believe Pope Benedict disagreed with this title.
 
In Lumen Gentium the Fathers at the Second Council of the Vatican taught :

." This maternity of Mary in the order of grace began with the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, and lasts until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this salvific duty, but by her constant intercession continued to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties , until they are led into the happiness of their true home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix, and Mediatrix. This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator.

"For no creature could ever be counted as equal with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer. Just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by the ministers and by the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is really communicated in different ways to His creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source.

"The Church does not hesitate to profess this subordinate role of Mary. It knows it through unfailing experience of it and commends it to the hearts of the faithful, so that encouraged by this maternal help they may the more intimately adhere to the Mediator and Redeemer. "
 
"The Church does not hesitate to profess this subordinate role of Mary. It knows it through unfailing experience of it and commends it to the hearts of the faithful, so that encouraged by this maternal help they may the more intimately adhere to the Mediator and Redeemer. "
I would personally advise against using terms that require multiple paragraphs to explain them.
 
And how do you like to defend those titles when a Protestant brings them up for example?🙂

Thank you.
Honesty haven’t engaged any…

If I did I think I would try to explain to understand the Church you have to understand Mary. I don’t think I would start them on co-redemptris
 
I usually explain Mother of God, Mother of the Church and Mother of each Christian first.
 
I am less familiar with mediatrix. As far as I understand it, it is pleasing to him to involve her in distributing all graces. Not that she’s the source, but as the Queen Mother she intercedes with prayer always for all Christians and people for their conversion. And she is an exemplary Christian, an arch-type of the Church, and among all the saints is the closest to God.
From Lumen Gentium#62:
‘This motherhood of Mary in the economy of grace lasts without interruption, from the consent which she gave in faith at the annunciation, and which she unhesitatingly bore with under the cross, even to the perpetual consummation of all the elect. For after being assumed into heaven, she has not put aside this saving function, but by her manifold intercession, she continues to win the gifts of eternal salvation for us. By her motherly love, she takes care of the brothers of her Son who are still in pilgrimage and in dangers and difficulties, until they be led through to the happy fatherland. For this reason, the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adiutrix, and Mediatrix. This however it to be so understood that it takes nothing away, or adds nothing to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator. For no creature can ever be put on the same level with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer.’
 
Why is Mary referred to as the Mediatrix?
"Therefore we could look at Mary as the Mediatrix in three senses: First, as mother of the redeemer, she was the intermediary through which the Son of God entered this world to save us from sin.

Second, by the witness of her own faith and thereby of presenting Christ to others, she aided in reconciling sinners to her Son. Mary, sinless yet knowing the suffering caused by sin, continues to call sinners to her Son. Through her example, she inspires all of us to the faith, hope, and love that our Lord wants all of us to have.

Finally, because of her assumption and role as mother for all of us, she prays for us, interceding on our behalf just as she did at Cana, asking the Lord to bestow graces to us as He wills."

Our Lady Co-Redemptrix

How Can Catholics Understand Mary as Co-Redemprix, Mediatrix of All Graces and Advocate? by Monsignor Charles M. Mangan
 
Regarding Mary and the big picture, we honor Mary because Jesus honored her first. There is not a single thing which our Lord did that we are not intended to emulate.

If you are Son of God” - words which tested Jesus first in the desert and later - at that “opportune time” at the crucifixion, sound to me like a parallel to claiming that Mary was just a convenient womb and was not “the mother of my Lord.”
 
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