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The Fruits of a Papal Definition of the Coredemption
Dr. Mark Miravalle
To strike a blow at the Devil you do not use swords or guns, but rather God’s truth: “Who is like God?” A dogmatic definition is a powerful weapon against the Kingdom of Satan.
The term, “coredemptrix” is properly translated “the woman with the redeemer” or more literally “she who buys back with [the redeemer]”. The prefix, “co”, comes from the Latin term, “cum”, which means “with” and not “equal to”. We do not have two coredeemers but one Redeemer and one Coredemptrix. Coredemptrix therefore as applied to Mary refers to her exceptional cooperation with and under her divine Son, Jesus Christ in the redemption of the human family, as manifested in Christian Scripture.
This article is from a longer talk given at the Symposium on Marian Coredemption held in 2001 at Ratcliffe College in Leicester, England. It has been edited.
The call of the Second Vatican Council to “bring Christ to the world”, with an evangelical focus not simply within the confines of the Church, but to the world, applies as well to the Christian truth regarding the Mother of Christ. This conciliar call to proclaim Christian truth to the world, inclusive of Christian truth about Mary, is at the same time an evangelical call that must be free from any doctrinal compromise in presenting the entire doctrinal truth about Mary as officially taught by the Catholic Church—a doctrinal truth which essentially includes Marian coredemption.
What follows then is a fundamental summary response, written for the Catholic and non-Catholic reader alike, to one of the principal objections to Mary Coredemptrix and the doctrinal role of Marian coredemption, specifically, that such a definition would be of no practical help to Church at this time.
Objection: While granting the legitimacy of Mary Coredemptrix and its corresponding doctrine of coredemption, there are no substantial reasons or fruits for its papal definition at this time, and in fact such a definition would cause serious division within the Church.
It must be stated from the outset that such a position regarding a potential papal definition of Mary Coredemptrix is certainly an acceptable position by a faithful member of the Catholic Church. Notwithstanding, let us explore, in a brief summary format, some of the numerous contemporary reasons presently being offered in support of the appropriateness and consequent positive fruits of a formal papal definition of Mary Coredemptrix .
1. Greater theological clarity to an area of present misunderstanding
When Bl. Pius IX raised the Church doctrine of the Immaculate Conception to the level of dogma in 1854, he stated that the fruits of such definition would be to “bring to perfection” the doctrine, adding greater clarity and light for the benefit of all:
“The Church labors hard to polish the previous teachings, to bring to perfection their formulation in such a way that these older dogmas of the heavenly doctrine receive proof, light, distinction, while keeping their fullness, their integrity, their own character…”
In light of the substantial contemporary confusion concerning precisely what the Catholic Church means to convey in the doctrine of Marian coredemption (as evidenced by the December 23, 2000, The New York Times piece and its reaction), it would seem most beneficial to have a precise statement, scripturally formulated in light of Christian Tradition, from the highest authority of the Catholic Church, ensuring its doctrinal precision and authenticity.
2. Ecumenical benefits in an authentic Catholic expression of doctrinal dialogue
Rather than its perception as being against the imperative of working for Christian unity, a precise formulation of what Catholics believe regarding Mary Coredemptrix , and at the same time what they do not believe (i.e., equality with Jesus Christ, divinity of Mary, etc.) will only serve authentic ecumenical dialogue based on integrity and truth as to what is already a Catholic doctrinal teaching. The late Cardinal John O’Connor of New York referred to this potential ecumenical fruit in his letter of endorsement for the papal definition of Mary Coredemptrix:
“Clearly, a formal papal definition would be articulated in such precise terminology that other Christians would lose their anxiety that we do not distinguish adequately between Mary’s unique association with Christ and the redemptive power exercised by Christ alone.”To read more...