I could not sleep several nights ago so I turned the tv on. I was changing channels when I came across EWTN. A couple was on explaining the Stations of the Cross. I was amazed when the lady said Mary was our Co-Redeemer. I have no idea why people actually believe that but I had never heard it before.
That is rather well know but explained in such a way as to make Eve Co-Redeemer by extension. There is much much more said of the Mary of Catholicism that is beyond what it written, or its careful use of language.
Even Ratzinger said that
"the formula “Co-redemptrix” departs to too great an extent from the language of Scripture and of the Fathers and therefore gives rise to misunderstandings” “Everything comes from Him [Christ], as their Latter to the Ephesians and the Letter to the Colossians, in particular, tell us; Mary, too, is everything she is through Him. The word “Co-redemptrix” would obscure this origin. A correct intention being expressed in the wrong way. “For matters of faith, continuity of terminology with the language of Scripture and that of the Fathers is itself an essential element; it is improper simply to manipulate language” Source
When the Bible is not your supreme authority, do not be surprised at the scope of imaginary fables taught as doctrine. The Mormons are not alone.
That lie has been around for a long time...Here's the answer:
Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
First, let me put your mind at ease. The Church teaches that Mary was redeemed by Christ's Passion and death, just like the rest of us. In her case, since she was conceived without sin, she was redeemed in anticipation of Christ's death.
The "Co" in the title, "Co-Redemptrix" is an ambiguous term, in that it has a different historical meaning in the Catholic Church than in our culture today.
The primary meaning is "cooperator." (Paul calls himself a "co-worker with Christ" [1 Cor. 3:9]). The meaning of this term, in a nutshell, is that Mary cooperated with God's plan that she become the Mother of Christ, and in that sense, bringing the Redeemer of Mankind into the world.
They do teach that she is co-redeemer.
Most Catholics will, of course, deny this, but the following is right out of the Catechism of the Catholic church.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p123a9p6.htm
969 “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation .... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”510
Names of God from the Bible. Compare them to the names given to Mary in the above prayer.
Jesus
Hope (our) - 1 Timothy 1:1
Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
Advocate - 1 John 2:1
Mediator - 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 12:24
Holy Spirit
Comforter - John 14:26
Helper – John 14:16
There is this from the CCC as well. Whoever wrote this is talking out of both sides of their mouth because the bolded part shows that they indeed consider her co-redeemer even while they deny in the first part that they are calling her that.
970 "Mary's function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin's salutary influence on men . . . flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it."511 "No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among 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. "512
daniel1212 also posted this in a thread concerning that title.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3055274/posts?page=113#113