Why A New Marian Dogma?
- Mother of All Peoples
- Aug 22
- 10 min read
The Four Marian Dogmas
Up to our present time, the Catholic Church has proclaimed four dogmas about Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. A dogma is a doctrinal truth that has received the Church’s highest possible pronouncement as a Christian truth immediately revealed by God and founded in Scripture and Tradition.
In 431 at the Council of Ephesus, the Church proclaimed the first dogma of Mary as the Mother of God. The Virgin Mary freely consented to become the Mother of Jesus Christ, the divine Word and second Person of the Trinity, made flesh (Jn. 3:16). Mary provided Jesus with an immaculate human nature identical to her own, and thus as a true human mother, brought the divine Redeemer into the world.
In 649, Pope St. Martin I declared Our Lady’s Perpetual Virginity, that Mary was virginal before, during, and after the birth of Jesus Christ. This second Marian dogma of her perfect threefold virginity states that Mary never had marital relations nor children other than Jesus, and includes her virginal integrity miraculously preserved during the birth of Jesus.
In 1854, Blessed Pope Pius IX infallibly proclaimed the third Marian dogma of the Immaculate Conception, declaring that Mary was created without original sin from the moment of her conception. This unique human privilege given by God to Mary included her “fullness of grace,” which prepared her to give our divine Redeemer a sinless human nature and to be the perfect human partner as the New Eve with Jesus, the New Adam, in the mission of Redemption.
In 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared the fourth Marian dogma of the Assumption, that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. Mary’s Assumption into heaven was the natural effect of her Immaculate Conception, and took place by the power of the Resurrected Jesus after his own Ascension into Heaven.
Spiritual Mother of Humanity
These four Marian dogmas delineate Mary’s God-given gifts in relation to Jesus Christ, but they do not include an essential aspect of the full truth about Mary: her relationship to humanity. None of these great dogmatic truths about Our Lady specifically include that she is the Spiritual Mother of the human race, of all peoples and nations, and of each individual human being personally. This fifth doctrine of Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood which the Church has officially and perennially taught, also deserves to be solemnly recognized and proclaimed: both in gratitude for Our Lady’s salvific roles throughout history, and because of the need of her fully activated intercession for the Church and the world at our present critical moment of human history.
What precisely do we mean when we say that the Mother of Jesus is Spiritual Mother of all humanity? How specifically does Mary exercise her maternal roles for her earthly children?
When we examine the characteristics of a human mother, we can see three basic roles or functions: 1) a mother suffers for her children; 2) a mother nourishes her children; and 3) a mother intercedes for her children. The same three roles constitute what Our Lady does for us in the spiritual order, as a “a mother to us in the order of grace (Vatican II, LG 61).”
First, Mary as the “Mother Suffering” sacrificed and suffered with Jesus, her divine Son, on behalf of her earthly children. Her “yes” brought the divine Redeemer into the world (Lk. 1:38). As St. Teresa of Calcutta stated, “Of course, Mary is the Co-redemptrix! She gave Jesus his body and the offering of his body is what saved us (August 15, 1993).” The Co-redemptrix title (the prefix, “co” means “with” not “equal,” and therefore the title signifies “a woman with the Redeemer”) never places the human Mary on the same level as her divine Son, but rather acknowledges her unique human cooperation with Jesus in the historic work of Redemption. Her entire life was given in sacrificial obedience to the Father’s plan of salvation accomplished by Jesus. The prophesy of Simeon foretold to the Virgin Mother that “a sword shall pierce through your own soul, too” (Lk. 2:35), a prophesy that would ultimately be fulfilled at Calvary. From the cross, Mary was given as spiritual mother by the crucified Jesus to all humanity in the words, “Woman, behold your son” and to John, who represented all humanity, “behold your mother!” (Jn. 19:26-27). At Calvary, Mary was “spiritually crucified” as Pope St. John Paul II taught, and “her role as Co-redemptrix did not cease with the glorification of her son (Jan 31, 1985).”
Mary uniquely cooperated with and under Jesus Christ, the divine Redeemer, in the work of man’s redemption (Vatican II, LG 61), especially by giving birth to the Redeemer and suffering with him at the foot of the cross. Therefore, she rightly merits the title of human “Co-redemptrix of the whole world” (Pope Leo XIII,1885; Pope Pius XI, 1932-33; St. John Paul II, 1982-4, 1991).
Secondly, Mary as the “Mother Nourishing,” spiritually nourishes her earthly children as the Mediatrix of all graces by bringing them “the gifts of eternal life (Vatican II, LG 62).” Each and every grace merited by Jesus for our redemption comes to us through the intercession of Mary. By her “yes” at the Annunciation, Mary mediates Jesus Christ, the one Mediator and source of all graces, into the world (Lk. 1:38). At the wedding of Cana, she again manifests her role of mediating between Jesus and humanity, which led to Jesus’ first miracle of grace (Jn. 2:4-10). At Calvary, Mary becomes our maternal mediatrix and spiritual mother as a personal gift of Christ to all peoples (Jn. 19:26-7). Our Lady’s title and role as Mediatrix of all graces has been explicit papal teaching over the last three centuries, which includes popes Benedict XIV, Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XI, Pius XII, St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
Thirdly, Mary as the “Mother Interceding” acts as a maternal Advocate for all human beings. She brings the needs of humanity to Christ our King for our salvation, protection, and defense. In the Old Testament, the mothers of the Davidic dynasty were the principal intercessors and counselors to the king (1 Kings 2:19; 2 Chron 22:2-4.) In the new and everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Mary, the new Queen Mother (Lk. 1:38) performs this motherly function of intercession for all peoples within the Kingdom and beyond (Jn. 2:5). She is the crowned Queen in the Kingdom of Jesus (Rev. 12:1) and intercedes for the salvation of souls against the Dragon, who is also the Ancient Serpent of Genesis (Rev. 12:17; Gen, 3:15). Not only is the title of Advocate Our Lady’s most ancient Christian title (St. Irenaeus, 180AD), but her role as universal Queen and Advocate continues throughout the history of the Church and world, especially at times of conflict (i.e., Lepanto, 1571; Vienna 1683; Berlin,1989; Russia-Ukraine Consecration, 2022).
While humanity has only one Spiritual Mother in Mary, Our Lady performs all three motherly functions of Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces and Advocate on behalf of her human children.
A Fifth Marian Dogma of Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood?
As these doctrinal truths and roles of Mary as our Spiritual Mother are already taught by the Papal Magisterium, what would be the benefit from a solemn dogmatic definition of Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood by our Holy Father?
Numerous spiritual and global benefits would come from a fifth Marian dogma of Mary’s Spiritual Maternity. Here are just some of the potential fruits for the Church and world:
The completion of Marian dogma. There is only one remaining doctrinal truth regarding the Virgin Mary: her Spiritual Maternity. Defining it would not only complete Marian dogma, but would also highlight the importance of Our Lady’s relationship with humanity alongside the other great Marian dogmas.
The climax of the Age of Mary. How appropriate that as we reach the climactic moment of an era universally designated as the “Age of Mary,” that this doctrinal truth upon which all her maternal activities and devotions are based, would be solemnly defined (for example, the Rosary, Marian Consecration, the Scapular, Marian apparitions, etc).
Proclamation of God’s respect for personal human dignity and freedom. The fact that God willed the entirety of human redemption to be dependent on the “free yes” of Mary as a human being testifies to the transcendent dignity of human freedom, and the sublime personhood possessed by every human being. It, moreover, underscores and the need for humanity to freely cooperate with God’s plan for salvation. St. Augustine rightly states: “God created us without us, but he did not will to save us without us (Catechism, n. 1847).”
Human Suffering is Redemptive. The example of Mary’s coredemptive suffering which, as St. John Paul II taught, was “supernaturally fruitful for the redemption of the world” (Salvifici Doloris, 25), testifies to every Christian’s call to follow St. Paul to “make up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body which is the Church (Col. 1:24).” We are all called to be “co-redeemers in Christ” (St. John Paul II, 1982). Proclaiming Our Lady’s role in Christ’s Redemption would highlight the supernatural value of every human suffering when spiritually united to the sufferings of Jesus. This fundamental Christian message is especially important at our time when such ubiquitous global suffering exists in the forms of war, poverty, hunger, refugees, abortion, the lonely, and the unloved.
Proper Role of Woman in the Church. With current deliberations about the nature and proper role of women in the Church and in society, to proclaim the dignity and role of Mary, the “Woman of Scripture,” and the greatest woman in history would bring vision and clarity to a true understanding of the sublime dignity of women. Defining Mary’s historic role would emphasize the invaluable role women should exercise within the Body of Christ and in the world.
Authentic Christian Unity through Mary. In the crucial mission for Christian unity, a solemnly defined articulation of the true role of Mary as Spiritual Mother as taught by the Church would provide an inestimable service towards authentic Ecumenism, as it would provide precise teaching for dialogue as to what the Church does and does not believe about the Mother of Jesus. A biblically based articulation of Mary’s role in Christ’s work of redemption and her subsequent roles of motherly intercession would serve true ecumenical activity, avoiding both false exaggeration and compromise (Vatican II, LG 67).To solemnly acknowledge Our Lady as the spiritual Mother of humanity, which necessarily includes all Christians, would also allow the Mother of Ecumenism to intercede powerfully for the required supernatural graces that, in reality, will be necessary to unite all Christians ultimately within the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
A Marian Remedy for AI. Along with unprecedented research and information resources, Artificial Intelligence also brings with it unprecedented threats of replacing through algorithmic information that which makes us uniquely human: the proper use of our God-given intellects in making authentically human choices about the most important aspects of our lives. As Pope Leo XIV stated: “Remember: no algorithm can ever substitute an embrace, a glance, a true encounter, neither with God, nor our friends, nor our family. Think of Mary (August 4, 2025).” To proclaim the truth about Mary, the greatest human being who ever lived, and how she used the gifts of mind and heart in unconditional obedience to God and for authentic personal relationships would be a concrete human testimony against a potential AI usage that can usurp human dignity and personal relationships.
World Peace through the Intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace. Pope Leo XIV has also referred to our serious global conflicts as “World War III by piecemeal,” and has prayed for a “miracle of peace” through “Mary, Queen of Peace (May 11, 2025).” Only through the direct intercession of Our Lady, Mediatrix of all graces and Advocate, can we hope to prevent a nuclear World War III. A solemn definition of Mary as Spiritual Mother of all humanity would be to formally acknowledge Our Lady as the God-appointed supernatural remedy in order to obtain true and lasting world peace. As she states at Fatima “God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart” and “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph… and a period of peace will be granted to the world (July 13, 1917).”
The fifth Marian dogma would be the key to the triumph of her Immaculate Heart and the resulting era of peace. Mary cannot fully intercede on behalf of humanity unless she receives the free consent of the humanity to do so. The pope alone, as the successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ on earth, possesses the Petrine keys of authority that allows him to speak universally on behalf of the entire human race. The dogmatic proclamation of Our Lady as the world’s Spiritual Mother would result in a historic outpowering of graces for the Church and for the world. It would be the Pope’s “yes” to the full power of Mary’s intercession for the world at this critical moment of human history.
In 1915, Belgian Cardinal, Desire-Joseph Mercier began an international petition drive of prayer and petitioning to the popes for the fifth Marian Dogma. This petition drive gathered hundreds of bishops’ petitions and hundreds of thousands of petitions from the laity in support of this fifth dogma during Mercier’s lifetime, which included the petition of St. Maximilian Kolbe. A major goal of this international Marian movement was world peace through Our Lady’s intercession. Since 1993, over 700 cardinals and bishops and over 8 million petitions of the laity from 150 countries have petitioned our contemporary Holy Fathers for this same dogmatic crown for our Lady, which also includes the personal petition of St. Teresa of Calcutta. As unprecedented dangers of global war, moral breakdown, and human tragedy seem to increase by the day, the world needs the historic graces that will come from the fifth Marian dogma more than ever.
Please prayerfully consider joining Christians the world over in praying for and petitioning to our beloved Holy Father, Pope Leo, for solemn definition of Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood.
Please pray daily for Pope Leo XIV and the fifth Marian dogma as a specific intention in your Rosary, masses, and spiritual offerings.
Please petition Pope Leo XIV by writing a short, respectful letter, asking him to prayerfully consider proclaiming this fifth Marian dogma.
His address is:
His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV
00120 Vatican City
Thank you for your kind cooperation on behalf of Our Lady in helping to bring forth the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart, and ultimately peace, true peace, to the world.
For more pamphlets or information, please contact Mother of All Peoples at mary@motherofallpeoples.com or visit www.motherofallpeoples.com.