What is the true nature of the Virgin Mary as co-redemtrix?

Question

I am reposting this question because "St.Catechumen" has blocked me, and maybe other Catholics from answering the question (why would someone who says he is studying to become a Catholic block the answers of Catholics?). Following is the rest of his question:

"St. Catechumen" wrote

God took woman from within man by using man's rib. Woman then caused man to sin. Because of this, man fell. This, of course, is Adam and Eve.

God then took Man from woman, redeeming woman through His grace. This, of course, is Jesus and Mary. Christ is referred to as the Second Adam; likewise Mary is the second Eve.

Woman came from man, humans fell, Man comes from woman, and humans are redeemed. It is a perfect.

Any answers or comments?

You have blocked me because I was trying to correct your misconceptions regarding the Catholic faith.

Will you block others who try to teach you the truth of the Catholic faith? Is blocking me a sign of your sincerity of becoming a Catholic?

Answer 1

Protestantss argue by saying that Christ alone is our redeemer. The Bible says: "I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob" (Is. 49:26) and "the redemption . . . is in Christ Jesus' (Rom. 3:24). Although none of these verses say Jesus alone redeems, Catholics would agree that it is through Christ alone that the redemption occurred. It is the suffering and death of Jesus Christ alone that brings the redemption of mankind. So how can Mary be co-redeemer if Jesus alone redeems? Mary's sufferings did not redeem mankind, but her sufferings, in union with the suffering and death of Christ, made her a participant in the redemption. The key word is "united". Jesus alone redeems in the sense that only His suffering and death had the power to free man from sin. Mary's sufferings are powerless to redeem, but when united to Christ, her sufferings had redemptive value. If Christ won saving grace for mankind, Mary also won it, because her work was perfectly united to the saving work of Christ.

Think about it this way. There was a man who had erected a fence in his yard. One night, there was a storm. In order to prevent the winds from toppling the fence, the man stood outside and held it. Soon afterwards, his daughters came out to help him. In reality, the strength of the man was enough to keep the pole standing, but the daughters did help to keep the fence standing, but only because of the work of the father. Without him, the fence would have toppled. Yet the girls were praised by the father and rewarded by the father, because they participated in keeping the fence standing. This is precisely what happened at the Redemption. The passion and death of Jesus was sufficient to redeem mankind, but Mary participated and therefore also helped to redeem mankind, though her effort was useless without the work of Jesus.

Protestants sometimes use the straw man that Christ alone was qualified to redeem mankind. Of course, Christ alone was qualified. Mary was powerless to redeem mankind. The Catholic Church just teaches that she participated in the redemption, not that she redeemed man herself or could have done so without Christ. They also say Christ alone deserves the title of "redeemer." Of course, this is true. The Catholic Church has never given Mary the title of "redeemer," only "co-redeemer," which is much different. "Co" means "alongside" or "with," and does not mean "equal" or even imply "equal". A "co-worker" is one that works alongside another. This could be someone of equal authority, but it could someone in authority or under the authority of another.

God Bless
Robin

Answer 2

In the long description you mention that Eve lead Adam to sin. This is not the correct theology that I have learned from many priests. (Yes, I am a devout Catholic and I am male.)

Most theologians that talk on this subject theorize that Adam was there with Eve when Satan tempted her and did nothing to stop her. He was just as guilty from his lack of action as the leader in this union. Then when Eve gave him the apple, he ate it knowing where it came from. Making him guilty by his actions as well.

It's almost as if he wanted to eat the apple but was afraid. So he wanted to see if Eve really would die if she ate it. Adam and Eve are equally guilty.

Mary's role as Co-Redemtrix is that as a worker in the field, harvesting souls. She is like the Foreman in charge of the laborers. She reports to the Owner of the field and makes sure His will gets done in the field. In that regard she has a primary role, but she is not equal to the Owner of the field. She is still subservient to the Owner although she is greater than all of the other laborers, the field and the crops.

Mary's role is dispensing Graces. She is not the originator of the graces and she is not equal to the originator of the graces. But, she is the primary distributor of these graces and that is what is earning her this title of Co-Redemtrix.

BTW - P.Benedict XVI says he will never give her that title because he doesn't want her to be confused as being equal to Jesus, as the "Co-" might suggest.

Answer 3

Indeed, the Virgin Mary was redeemed by Christ. But Christ's redemption of her took place because she cooperated in God's plan that Jesus become a man. Had not Mary or perhaps if not her, any other woman in her place, not consented in becoming the mother of Jesus, how could Jesus become man and be crucified and redeem mankind? Of course, God could redeem mankind without Jesus becoming man. But that was his plan and not ours and certainly, not Mary's. So, Mary's participation in the redemption brought by Christ, does not diminish Christ's prerogative in becoming the only redeemer of us all. Mary's cooperation with God or as redemptrix does not conflict with Jesus being the Redeemer because that was WHAT HAPPENED.

Answer 4

Only Jesus is the One Mediator,but Mary as Mother of God Incarnate, is in a special place among the "mediators-in-the one-Mediator" since all the members of the Body of Christ are mediators of Grace to each other and are "intercessors-in-the One-Intercessor" by praying for each other. Our Mother Mary Immaculate is in the same class of intercessor as we are but in the order of Grace she is far above us because of her cooperation with the grace given by Christ alone by His Incarnation,Death and resurrection and His pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

Not worship, but logic

Perhaps it might help if one considers that the "co" part is not to be seen as "equal"--not like, for example, a "co-star", but more in the sense of a "co-pilot". A co-pilot is NOT the one who pilots the plane. The co-pilot does not share the piloting in the normal course of events, but is there to back-up and handle problems FOR the pilot, if necessary.

Jesus is piloting the plane. Mary is there to handle things that come up--to reassure the passengers if there is turbulence, for example.

Mary is a creature, not a goddess. Mary could not be even IN the plane without Jesus, while Jesus could definitely be in the plane without Mary. . .but, together, not that this makes Jesus MORE, but Mary REFLECTS Him (just as we someday will either be perfect reflections of God's love, or damned by our own free choice), and this PLEASES Jesus.

Just as Eve participated in the fall by her consent and pride, Mary cooperates with the redemption of man by her consent and humility as handmaid of the Lord. She gave Jesus his body, and his body is what saved us."

Because Mary AGREED with the angel that she would let the will of God be done, it was granted that the means of salvation would come into the world through her being. By giving birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. So she CO-OPERATED or freely submitted to the will of God. In this sense she became a co-redemptrix for all of mankind by bearing and giving birth to our Savior who would die for the sins of the world.
Mary, became what Eve wasn't. The obedient virgin. So she became the New Eve and our Lord the Second Adam. And all Christians the the children of God. Truly, a beautiful truth.

Answer 6

Awesome answer Genghis, it is just that, co does not refer to equality in this case, but to someone who was used as aid too or a direct helper. That is the view of the Church and that is how we view Mary, much more than JUST A VESSEL, the mother of God encarnate is much more than JUST A VESSEL, and she was seen as such in the Bible. People who dont see this definately have to read the infancy naratives, and the wedding at Cana again to see how much more she was than JUST A VESSEL.
God bless all and have a great day.

Answer 7

The simplest way to view it is that had Mary not consented to be the mother of the Messiah ("Let it be done unto me according to thy word."), then Jesus would not have become man, and mankind's salvation through Jesus would have been in jeopardy.

Answer 8

I guess what St Catechumen wrote is OK.

But Mary is not a co-redemtrix.
There is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Christ Jesus.

In Luke chapter 1 in verse 46 and 47 it is written -

46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,


Mary needed a Savior just like us.

Answer 9

That's what I was told this morning. It makes sense to me.

I have blocked you, my brother, because you keep contacting me.

I have no ill will toward you.

The Blessings of the Most Holy Mother upon you!

Answer 10

These stories are meant to show that women lead to sin and that their only positive role is reproduction!

There is nothing empowering for women in them.