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Mary: the motherly Co-Redemptrix
by MICHAEL HAYNES
MARY
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The motherly Co-Redemptrix
The Marian title of Co-Redemptrix, can be easily misunderstood, especially when certain members of the hierarchy even object to the phrase. However, the term has been part of the teaching of the Church from the days of the early Fathers, through to the medieval saints and right up to the present day.
Christ’s entire life is one of redemption and at Mary’s humble fiat, “she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work 9 of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with Him and dependent on Him, by God's grace”.1 Pope John Paul II teaches that at this moment, Mary gave herself to God with a “full submission of intellect and will”. (Redemptoris Mater, no. 13) Due to her plenitude of grace and role as the Mother of God, she was “especially predisposed to cooperation with Christ, the one Mediator of human salvation. And such cooperation is precisely this mediation subordinated to the mediation of Christ”. (no. 39)
Mary’s work with Christ is not performed in her own right, but rather “carried out under Christ and in union with Christ from whom it receives all its efficacy”.2 As Fr Neubert explains, Mary’s role involved “a certain union of wills, of sufferings, and of self-oblation” in order to do everything.3 Mary acknowledged her complete dependence upon Christ when her mission was revealed to her at the Annunciation. Dr Miravalle expresses the special union most succinctly, “In a phrase: Mary is ‘with Jesus’ from the Annunciation to Calvary”.4
This is very true, but even more can be added to that, for Mary is with Christ even after the Crucifixion. She remains by the side of her Son as He is lowered from the cross: she remains on
earth giving her motherly care A work of love and to the frightened apostles and the learning, dedicated humbly to Mary, early Church. (Acts 1:14) Mary
in the hope that
these bring pages other might s to her. cannot abandon her Son, nor His Church, for she is linked in a bond of deepest love to both.
Herein lies an explanation of the
term, Co-Redemptrix, in an The Church is the mystical body attempt to about Mary reduce any but also to confusion highlight of Christ and Mary, as Mother the beauty of those seeking this doctrine. to understand For what of God and Co-Redemptrix, is Co-Redemption means is part of the constant, and how it unchanging forever ‘with Jesus’ . teaching of the book is perfectly Church, suited. this short The word Co-Redemptrix has its origins in the Latin language and is made up of the two ISBN 978-0-244-54926-8 words “Cum” and “Redimere”. It 90000 literally means “she who buys 780244 549268 back with”, Co-Redemptrix being a co-operation in Christ’s salvific action. One can see that at no point does the word “Cum” ever mean “equal to” or “interchangeable”, unlike the manner in which a “co-pilot” refers to one who is interchangeable with the pilot.5 In studying this truth I have discovered a wealth of beautiful truths, but I have also truly learnt just how much I do not know and fallen in love with the Blessed Virgin even more than before. Please God this short and insufficient work will bring others to develop a loving devotion to her, particularly under the title of Co-Redemptrix. DETAILS: “Mary, the Motherly Co-Redemptrix” By Michael L J Haynes 88 pages, Lulu.com ISBN: 978-0-244-54926-8 1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §517, 494, 124, (Washington D.C, United States Catholic Conference, 2000). 2. Fr Emil Neubert, Mary in Doctrine, (Milkwaukee, Bruce Publishing Company, 1954), p. 72. 3. Ibid, 73. 4. Dr Mark Miravalle, With Jesus - The story of Mary Co-Redemptrix (Goleta CA, Queenship Publishing, 2003), p. 11. 5. It is interesting to note here that some of the entries in Latin Dictionaries have ‘cum’ as being used to denote acting under an authority, and taking orders from another.
