Mary Co-redemptrix: A Response to 7 Common Objections

The role of the papal proclamation of Mary Co-redemptrix in the prophesied Triumph of the Immaculate Heart would be seen by some Marian contemporaries as the official recognition by the pope, as the highest Church authority, exercising the required freedom on the part of humanity to allow the full mediational and intercessory power of Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate to be released in the distribution of the redemptive graces of Calvary to the contemporary world.

God does not force his grace upon us, but awaits the free consent of humanity. With the official papal definition of Mary Co-redemptrix by the highest human authority's exercise of free will on behalf of humanity, this free act would "release" the Co-redemptrix to most fully distribute the graces of Calvary in a new outpouring of graces of the Holy Spirit for the world. As explained by former Vatican Ambassador Howard Dee of the Philippines:

Two thousand years ago, during the First Advent, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and when the power of the Most High overshadowed her, she conceived Jesus, Son of God. Now, during this New Advent, it is the Mother of All Peoples, Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces, and Advocate, who will accompany her Spouse to descend into our hearts and our souls and recreate in each of us—if we give our fiat—into the likeness of Jesus...The proclamation of the Fifth Dogma is no longer our prerogative; it is our duty. (85)

As such, the papal proclamation of Mary Co-redemptrix would effect a historic release of spiritual grace upon the world by the full exercise of the spiritual mother of all peoples in her most generous exercise of her roles as Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix of all grace and Advocate. (86)

Conclusion

It is to be hoped that some light has been shed upon the principal questions concerning the present discussion of the issue of Mary Co-redemptrix in itself and, at least by way of introduction, in discussing the specific aspect of a potential papal definition of the Co-redemptrix doctrine.

In regards to any future potential definition of Co-redemptrix from a Catholic perspective, peace and trust in the guidance of the Church by the pontiff in matters of faith and morals should ultimately reign supreme in the Catholic faithful's mind and heart, regardless of present legitimate personal opinions of diversity on the issue.

From the general Christian perspective regarding the doctrine of Mary Co-redemptrix and other doctrines which presently divide us, let us keep faith in the eventual fulfillment of the prayer of Jesus Christ for Christian unity at the Last Supper that, "... they may all be one, even as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou has sent me" (Jn. 17:21). Apart from temporary historical advances or setbacks, Christians must have faith in an ultimate Christian unity of heart, which will blossom into a unity of mind, truth, and faith based on the one Jesus Christ, who is "the Way, the Truth, the Life" (Jn. 14:6).

Notes

(1) Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Personal Interview, Calcutta, August 14, 1993.

(2) John Paul II, Papal Address, Jan. 31, 1985, Guayaquil, Ecuador, (O.R., March 13, 1985).

(3) St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Adversus haeresus, III, 22, emphasis author's.

(4) St. Jerome, Epist. 22, 21.

(5) Modestus of Jerusalem, Migne, PG 86; 3287.

(6) St. John Damascene, PG 86; 658.

(7) St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Ser. III, super Salve.

(8) St. Bonaventure, de don., Sp. 6; 14., emphasis author's.

(9) Cf. Calkins, "Pope John Paul II's Teaching on Marian Coredemption" as found in Miravalle, ed., Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Theological Foundations II, p.113.

(10) Cf. John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, nn. 21, 28.

(11) Second Vatican Council, Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 11.

(12) John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, n. 36.

(13) John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, n. 18.

(14) Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, n. 56.

(15) Lumen Gentium, n. 58.

(16) Lumen Gentium, n. 61.

(17) John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, 18.

(18) John Cardinal O'Connor, Endorsement Letter For Papal Definition of Mary, Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, February 14, 1994.

(19) Martin Luther, Commentary on the Magnificat, 1521, as quoted in Dr. Charles Dickson, A Protestant Pastor Looks at Mary, 1996, Our Sunday Visitor Press, pp. 41, 42.

(20) Ibid.

(21) Dickson, A Protestant Pastor Looks at Mary, pp. 48-49.

(22) John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, nn. 21, 39.

(23) John Paul II, Papal Address, Rome, October 1, 1997, L'Osservatore Romano, 1997, n. 41.

(24) J. Macquarrie, "Mary Co-redemptrix and Disputes over Justification and Grace" in Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Theological Foundations II, p. 246.

(25) St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Adversus haeresus, III, 22, emphasis author's.

(26) Modestus of Jerusalem, Migne, PG 86; 3287.

(27) St. John Damascene, PG 86; 658.

(28) St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Ser. III, super Salve.

(29) St. Bonaventure, de don., Sp. 6; 14, emphasis author's.

(30) St. Bonaventure, Sermo III de Assumptione, Opera Omnia, v. 9.

(31) St. Bonaventure, Sent. III.

(32) St. Bonaventure, Collatio de donis Spiritus Sancti 6, n. 16.

(33) St. Albert the Great (or Pseudo-Albert) Mariale, Q. 150.

(34) John Tauler, Sermo pro festo Purificationis Beate Mariae Virginis.

(35) Oratione, St. Peters's in Salzburg, in Analecta hymnica medii aevi, v. 46, p. 126.

(36) For a more comprehensive treatment of Co-redemptrix throughout Christian Tradition, cf. J.B. Carol, De Corredemptione Beatae Virginis Mariae, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1950, p. 125; G. Roschini, O.S.M., Maria Santissima Nella Storia Della Salvezza, 1969, v. II, p.171.

(37) Fr. Fredrick Faber, At the Foot of the Cross (Sorrows of Mary), Reilly Co., 370.

(38) Pope Leo XIII, Parta humano generi.

(39) Pope Benedict XV, Inter Sodalicia, 1918.

(40) Pope Pius XI, Allocution to Pilgrims of Vicenza, Nov. 30,1933.

(41) Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, n. 58

(42) John Paul II, Papal Address at Guayaquil, January 31, 1985 (O.R.E., 876).

(43) John Paul II, General Audience, April 9, 1997.

(44) John Paul II, General Audience, March 21, 2001.

(45) For example, cf. Pius XI, Papal Allocution at Vicenza, Nov. 30, 1933.

(46) John Paul II, General Audience, April 9,1997.

(47) Galot, S.J., "Maria Corredentrice" in L'Osservatore Romano, September 15, 1997, Daily Italian Ed.

(48) Cf. Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum, II, nn. 9-10.

(49) Cf. Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, n. 25.

(50) Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, n. 56.

(51) Lumen Gentium, n. 58.

(52) Lumen Gentium, n. 61.

(53) Jean Galot, S.J., "Maria Corredentrice. Controversie e problemi dottrinali," Civilta Cattolica, 1994, III, 213-225.

(54) "Maria Corredentrice," L'Osservatore Romano, September 15, 1995, p. 4.

(55) For a more comprehensive treatment, cf. Schug and Miravalle, "Mary Co-redemptrix in the Documents of the Papal Magisterium" in Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Theological Foundations I, Queenship, 1995; Calkins, "Pope John Paul's Teaching on Marian Co-redemption" in Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Theological Foundations II, pp.113-148.

(56) Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Jucunda Semper, 1884.

(57) Pope St. Pius X, Encyclical Ad diem illum, 1904.

(58) Pope Benedict XV, Apostolic Letter, Inter Sodalicia, 1918.

(59) Pope Pius XI, Prayer of the Solemn Closing of the Redemption Jubilee, April 28, 1933.

(60) Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Mystici Corporis, 1943.

(61) Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris, n.25.

(62) John Paul II, Papal Address at Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan. 31, 1985.

(63) Cf. For six citations and commentary, cf. Calkins, "The Mystery of Mary Coredemptrix in the Papal Magisterium" in Miravalle, ed., Mary Co-redemptrix: Doctrinal Issues Today, Queenship, 2002, pp. 41ff.

(64) Again, cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 25.

(65) Bl. Pope Pius IX, Dogmatic Bull, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854.

(66) For an extended treatment, cf. J. B. Carol, "Our Lady's Co-redemption," in Mariology, Vol. II, Bruce, 1958; Friethoff, A Complete Mariology, Blackfriars Pub., London, 1985, p.182; Galot, S.J., Maria: Mediatrice o Madre Universale?," Civilta Cattolica, 1996, I, 232-244.

(67) Galot, S.J., "Maria Corredentrice: Controversie e problemi dottrinali," Civilta Cattolica, 1994, III, p. 218.

(68) Cf. Friethoff, op. cit.

(69) Cf. J.B. Carol, op. cit.

(70) Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, Homily on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1973.

(71) Bl. Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854, DS 2802.

(72) John Cardinal O'Connor, Endorsement Letter For Papal Definition of Mary, Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, February 14, 1994.

(73) Alma Socia Christi, Proceedings of the Rome International Mariological Congress, 1950, p. 234.

(74) Dr. Josef Seifert is Rector of the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein and member of the Pontifical Council For Life.

(75) Seifert, "Mary as Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix of all Graces—Philosophical and Personalist Foundations of a Marian Doctrine," in Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Theological Foundations II, p. 166.

(76) Seifert, ibid., p.168.

(77) Ibid.

(78) J. Macquarrie, "Mary Co-redemptrix and Disputes over Justification and Grace" in Mary Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Theological Foundations II, pp. 248, 255.

(79) John Paul II, 1995 Encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, n. 15.

(80) Again cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 25.

(81) For a more comprehensive treatment of modern hagiography on Marian Co-redemption, cf. Stefano Manelli, FFI, "Twentieth Century Hagiography on Marian Co-redemption" in Mary at the Foot of the Cross, Acts of the England Symposium on Marian Co-redemption, 1999.

(82) Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Endorsement Letter for the Fifth Marian Dogma, August 14, 1993.

(83) For a sample of such thought, cf. In Miravalle, ed., Contemporary Insights on a Fifth Marian Dogma, Theological Foundations III, Queenship, 2000, the following essays: Ambassador Howard Dee, "Our Lady's Ambassador, John Paul II, Fatima, and the Fifth Marian Dogma"; Dr. Bartholomew, "A Scientist Explores Mary, Co-redemptrix"; Calkins, "The Messages of the Lady of All Nations."

(84) Memoirs of Sr. Lucia of Fatima, July 13, 1917.

(85) Ambassador Howard Dee, "Our Lady's Ambassador, John Paul II, Fatima, and the Fifth Marian Dogma," in Contemporary Insights on a Fifth Marian Dogma, Queenship, 2000, pp. 12-13.

(86) For an extended treatment, cf. Miravalle, The Dogma and the Triumph, Queenship, 1998.