Current status of Mary [Re: Cardinal Ratzinger Does Not Foresee Approval of “Co-redemptrix”]

[Polycarp]

See also:

Cardinal Ratzinger Does Not Foresee Approval of Mary as “Co-redemptrix”

TCRNews.com | 10/5/02 | TCRNews.com

Cardinal Ratzinger Does Not Foresee Approval of Mary as “Co-redemptrix”

TCRNews.com, 10/5/02---Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said he does not think there will be any Church compliance with the request of some Catholics that the Blessed Virgin Mary be named “Co-redemptrix” in the history of salvation. Ratzinger made the comments in an interview with German journalist Peter Seewald which has been published in book form by Ignatius Press entitled God and the World.

Ratzinger said, “ I do not think there will be any compliance with this demand, which in the meantime is being supported by several million people, within the foreseeable future. The response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is, broadly, that what is signified by this is already better expressed in other titles of Mary, while 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.

The Cardinal continues: "What is true here? Well, it is true that Christ does not remain outside us or to one side of us, but builds a profound and new community with us. Everything that is his becomes ours, and everything that is ours he has taken upon himself, so that it becomes his: this great exchange is the actual content of redemption, the removal of limitations from our self and its extension into community with God. Because Mary is the prototype of the Church as such and is, so to say, the Church in person, this being “with” is realized in her in exemplary fashion.

"But this “with” must not lead us to forget the “first” of Christ: Everything comes from Him, as the Letter to the Ephesians and the Letter to Colossians, in particular, tell us; Mary, too, is everything that she is through Him.

"The word 'Co-redemptrix,'" Ratzinger went on to say, "would obscure this origin. 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." (God and the World, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2000 )

[Polycarp]

Just some more background on the Co-Redemptrix debate.

[Telit Likitis]

John Paul II is preparing a 44 page apostolic letter on the Rosary. That seems to me to be awfully long to promote a well established devotion. Do you think it might be related to a Co-Redemptrix definition in the near future?

[.45MAN]

Thanks for the continues pings, I would love to see this happen but in todays world it could be catastrophic.

[Polycarp]

Do you think it might be related to a Co-Redemptrix definition in the near future?

Definitely not. Ratzinger is a most loyal leutenant to JPII. He would never undercut JPII's plans by making these comments of his public before JPII's letter on the Rosary.

[sharktrager]

Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on 1854-DEC-8. Many Roman Catholics believe that this refers to Jesus' conception circa 5 to 7 BCE. In fact, it means that Mary herself was conceived free of sin before her birth circa 20 BCE.

As a non-Catholic, could someone please explain the reasoning behind this?

Thanks

[Askel5]

Excellent news, IMHO.

[Siobhan]

If we are breathing that is enough reason for non-Catholics to condemn us.

I think definitions and dogmatic declarations are almost meaningless unless they are accompanied by a thoroughgoing catechesis of the entire Church. I could see a Marian year being one vehicle for this kind of teaching.

[drstevej]

"The response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is, broadly, that what is signified by this is already better expressed in other titles of Mary, while 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."

***I would expect a firestorm of comment from non-Catholic FReepers when they see this.***

[1] I am glad to see the number of RC's in agreement with or relieved by Ratzinger's statement.

[2] There has hardly been a firestorm of non-RC posters on this topic.

[3] I am one non-RC who thinks Ratzinger is right in the quote above.

[RnMomof7]

Professor Mark Miravalle of Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, initiated a formal petition drive in 1993 during a Marian conference at that university. It asks the Pope to make infallible statement that would officially elevate Mary, the mother of Jesus, to the status of co-redeemer. More than six million signatures from 148 countries have reached the Vatican as of the end of the year 2000, asking that Pope John Paul II infallibly declare a new dogma: "That the Virgin Mary is a co-redeemer with Jesus and co-operates fully with her son in the redemption of humanity." If this were done, "she would be a vastly more powerful figure, something close to the fourth member of the Holy Trinity and the primary female face through which Christians experience the divine." 3 Miravalle's petition has received support

Perhaps He has not made it doctrine because it is an affont to God and HIS plan of salvation Poly....

[RnMomof7]

I have a question..If my son invents a new high speed computer may I automatically get the royalities?

[Gophack]

Mary leads everyone to her Son, Jesus Christ. She is not his equal, but those who pray the rosary and ask the Blessed Virgin for intercession, are drawn closer to her Son through her. She is a powerful intercessor because she is the Mother of God; she is a powerful intercessor because of her immaculate conception she was free of sin. But she was fully human; through her free will, she chose to follow God's request. I don't see how the church can make her a co-redemptrix, because no one gets to the Father through Mary, but they do get to Jesus through Mary.

Does that make sense? Am I missing something here?

[gcruse]

 because no one gets to the Father through
Mary, but they do get to Jesus through Mary.

Does that make sense? Am I missing something here?

If Jesus, as part of the Trinity, is the Father and
no one gets to the Father through Mary, then no
one gets to Jesus through Mary, either.  Right?

[Wrigley]

The only thing that makes sense is that you are heading towards idolatry,

[Wrigley]

Well said.