Posted on 07/24/2004 8:27:07 PM PDT by narses
An Explanation of the Coredemptrix of Mary Title
Compiled by Martin Beckman
The following is a compilation of several articles by other authors, and discussions I have had with Protestants and Catholics on this issue. Much of the information in this compilation is copied from other authors and therefore I make no claims of authorship of this information in it's entirety.This article is intended to give a brief explanation.
Newsweek ran an article in it's August 25th, 1997 issue about a movement within the Catholic Church. Millions of Catholics signed and submitted a petition to Pope John Paul II in an effort to name Mary, the Mother of our Lord, as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate for all Christians. This would be the fifth and final Marian dogma. Members of Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici ("The Voice of the People for Mary Mediatrix") spearheaded the effort.
Supporters include Cardinal John O'Connor of New York, the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta; the late Cardinal Luigi Ciappi, OP, papal theologian emeritus; Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila, the Philippines; Cardinal Edouard Gagnon, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses; over 480 bishops including 40 cardinals; prominent lay leaders and ordinary faithful from all parts of the world. Hardly a fringe group!
Here's a short description from the petition submitted to the Pope:
When the Church invokes Mary under the title, "Coredemptrix", she means that Mary uniquely participated in the redemption of the human family by Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. At the Annunciation (cf.Lk.1:38) Mary freely cooperated in giving the Second Person of the Trinity his human body which is the very instrument of redemption, as Scripture tells us: "We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb.10:10).
And at the foot of the cross of our Saviour (Jn.19:26), Mary's intense sufferings, united with those of her Son, as Pope John Paul II tells us, were, "also a contribution to the Redemption of us all" (Salvifici Doloris, n.25). Because of this intimate sharing in the redemption accomplished by the Lord, the Mother of the Redeemer is uniquely and rightly referred to by Pope John Paul II and the Church as the "Coredemptrix."
It is important to note that the prefix "co" in the title Coredemptrix does not mean "equal to" but rather "with", coming from the Latin word cum. The Marian title Coredemptrix never places Mary on a level of equality with her Divine Son, Jesus Christ. Rather it refers to Mary's unique human participation which is completely secondary and subordinate to the redeeming role of Jesus, who alone is true God and true Man.
Mary's role was unique. If she had said 'no' to Gabriel ... to God, would we have a Savior, would we have our true Redeemer ... our Lord .... the Messiah? Mary played a definite role in our salvation. But back to the original statement ... that role is entirely dependent and subordinate on Jesus.
Mary is called to give her free and full consent to conceive this child. She is not merely a passive recipient of the message, but she was given an active role, and heaven awaited her free choice. It is precisely by her free consent to collaborate in God's saving plan that she becomes the Coredemptrix. The prophecy of Simeon to Mary, "and a sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:25), affirms Mary's unique participation in the work of redemption, as it warns her that she will undergo an unspeakable pain that will pierce her soul, for the salvation of mankind. John 19:25 tells us of Jesus' Mother at the very foot of the cross, persevering with her Son in his worst hour of agony, and therein suffering the death of her Son.
Thus in her own suffering too, the Mother of the Redeemer participates in the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ.
St. Paul tells us we are to make up what is lacking in the sacrifice of Jesus (Col 1:24): "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,"
Paul is making a very similar statement here also. By his sufferings he is completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the church and us. This is a role we all can partake .... but this role is dependent on Christ and subordinate to Christ.
That is all that statement about Mary is saying. Mary had a role, a contribution in filling what was lacking in us, the Church. It's a very biblical statement.
Jesus Christ as true God and true man redeems the human family, while Mary as Coredemptrix participates with the Redeemer in his one perfect Sacrifice in a completely subordinate and dependent way. The key word here is "participation" in that which is exclusively true of Jesus Christ. The title "Coredemptrix" never puts Mary on a level of equality with our Lord; rather, it refers to Mary's unique and intimate participation with her divine Son in the work of redemption. "Coredemptrix" is a Latin word; the prefix "co" in the title, "Coredemptrix," derives from the Latin word "cum," which means "with," not "equal to." 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. Similarly, as Mediatrix, the Mother of Jesus does not "rival" Christ's mediation but rather participates in the one mediation of Jesus Christ. Imagine water from a reservoir reaching the people through a system of aqueducts or channels. By analogy, Jesus is the infinite "reservoir" of all grace, which is distributed to us through Mary .... as she gave birth to Jesus. Jesus, the one mediator, does not exclude secondary, subordinate mediators.
Catholics do agree wholeheartedly that Jesus is the one and only mediator between man & God. No question ... the bible teaches this ... the Catholic Church teaches this. No subordinate co-deities, no additional redeemers, no additional mediators! Clear enough?
But what about our role in bringing people to Christ, preaching the Gospel, as teachers, pointing people to Christ .... and so on? We can be mediators in that fashion. Surely you do not disagree that faith comes from (by grace) from receiving the gospel message.
This is not saying we are mediators between Jesus and God for mankind ... but we can have a subordinate & dependent role.
This isn't adding to Jesus' mediatorship, not a seperate channel, not an end-run, or anything that takes away from His role.
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Isaiah 63:1-6
God's Day of Vengeance and Redemption
Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
"It is I, speaking in righteousness,
mighty to save."
Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress?
"I have trodden the winepress alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing.
For the day of vengeance was in my heart,
and the year of my redemption has come.
I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm worked salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me.
I trampled the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and poured their blood on the ground."
There is no justification for using the term redemtrix in any way, especially if it's preceded by the prefix co-.
co- prefix [ME, fr. L, fr. com-; akin to OE ge-,
perfective and collective prefix, OIr com- with] 1 : with : together : joint : jointly
2 : in or to the same degree
3 a : one that is associated in an action with another : fellow : partner
b : having a usu. lesser share in duty or responsibility : alternate : deputy
(C) 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
I'm opposed to the definition of Mary as Co-Redemptrix. It is not scriptural, and runs the risk of elevating Mary to a co-equal status with Her Son.
***If she had said 'no' to Gabriel ... ***
Could she have said "no"?
"Could she have said "no"?"
Of course, just as Lucifer could have said Serviam rather than Non Serviam. Why do you ask?
If she "could" have said no, then our salvation hinged on the whims of a young girl, not on a devine plan from our God.
God's plan, in the very beginning, was for this to happen exactly as it did, with no input, no permission, no discussion from a young girl. God foretold what was to be. There could be no other way for it to happen. It was prophesy, not wild guesses.
And? Was Lucifer not part of God's Plan? Is free will not part?
Of course Satan was part of God's plan. Do you think he could act independantly from God? That God is powerless when it comes to Satan? Satan has no more free will than we do. And no, we don't have free will. We cannot, on our own, decide to accept Jesus. God works in us to turn us from sin, to turn us toward him.
Are you Catholic?
Nope, not even close. Presbyterian.
Whew. So you believe that the saved were born saved and the damned born damned?
I believe that all that God called to him from the beginning of the world are saved, and all whom God did not call are doomed to die.
Predestination. Cool. So no matter WHAT I do, I am either saved or not? No need to do anything? No need for either faith or works, if my destiny is Salvation, I'm in, if not, all is vanity anyway, right?
But the thing is, you don't know until God saves you. Is there anything You can do to merit salvation? If so, then God owes it to you. It is no longer a free gift, but a debt. God chooses whom he wants, not the other way around.
And in one sense, it doesn't matter what you do. God will cleanse those whom he want to cleanse, and once he does your desire is to please him. Then is when you make choices about sinning or not. Before that your desire is to sin, period. You do what you desire, not what God desires. It is only AFTER God has taken away your sins do you wish to please him.
Right. I have NO RESPONSIBILITY, none. NO FREE WILL, none.
Need I point out the total lack of Scriptural basis for your odd belief system?
And I can point out all kinds of scripture for your Mariology???????????
Actually, all this has been hashed out by experts, and even if I were to point to all sorts of scripture, which I can, you would just direct me to something else. No, I am not going to argue with you. You have your church, and I have my God. So be it. Love in Christ, Jeff.
PS. If you really want to do study this issue, read the "Bondage of the Will" by Martin Luther. He gives both his point of view and Eramus'(which is your church's).
Christ or Luther, thanks but I'll stick with Christ.
So will I, and I will stick to the Bible. But it appears to me that you aren't willing to learn, just argue. Read the book, it might open your eyes, or it might confirm your convictions.
And when did I ever say I would chose Luther over Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour, the one and only Lord of my life, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Don't put words in my mouth, nor infer by any means that I do not belive in Christ.
***Need I point out the total lack of Scriptural basis for your odd belief system?***
You will if He has ordained it.
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