Vatican Officially Rejects ‘Co-Redemptrix’ as a Title for Mary

Audio By Carbonatix

The Vatican’s doctrinal office on Tuesday formally rejected the titles “co-redemptrix” and “co-mediatrix,” to describe Mary, asserting in a lengthy document they wrongly place “her on the same level” as Jesus and are easily misunderstood. Both titles have been used by the Catholic Church for centuries, including in recent decades. The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith noted in the document that John Paul II referred to Mary as “co-redemptrix” at least seven times, using it to reference the “salvific value of our sufferings when they are offered together with the sufferings of Christ, to whom Mary is united especially at the Cross.”

Pope Francis, though, opposed the use of “co-redemptrix,” asserting that Mary “never wished to appropriate anything of her Son for herself” and “never presented herself as a co-Savior” but instead as “a disciple.” The Vatican's theological office urged Catholics worldwide not to use “co-redemptrix.” The document was titled Mater Populi Fidelis (“The Mother of the Faithful People of God”).

“This title risks obscuring Christ’s unique salvific mediation and can therefore create confusion and an imbalance in the harmony of the truths of the Christian faith, for ‘there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). When an expression requires many, repeated explanations to prevent it from straying from a correct meaning, it does not serve the faith of the People of God and becomes unhelpful,” the document says. 

“In this case, the expression ‘Co-redemptrix’ does not help extol Mary as the first and foremost collaborator in the work of Redemption and grace, for it carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ -- the Son of God made man for our salvation, who was the only one capable of offering the Father a sacrifice of infinite value -- which would not be a true honor to his Mother. Indeed, as the ‘handmaid of the Lord’ (Lk 1:38), Mary directs us to Christ and asks us to ‘do whatever he tells you.’”

Phrases such as “mediatrix of all graces” also should not be used, since they have “limits that do not favor a correct understanding of Mary’s unique place.”

“In fact, she, the first redeemed, could not have been the mediatrix of the grace that she herself received,” the document says. “This is not a minor point since it reveals something central: even in Mary’s case, the gift of grace precedes her and comes from the absolutely free initiative of the Trinity in view of Christ’s merits. Like all of us, she did not merit her justification by a preceding action of her own, nor did she do so by any subsequent action.”

Related Article:

Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary?

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/VladyslavDanilin

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.