What do you think of when you hear Mary referred to as “Co-Redemptrix”? This particular title of Mary brings about differing opinions. Mary’s identity as Co-Redemptrix is not a dogma––though there is an ongoing push for it to become one––as Vatican II did not make the title official due to concern that it would be misleading. However, this name for Mary is valid and has been referred to throughout the Church’s earliest days by saints and popes.
The title of Co-Redemptrix is connected to Saint Paul’s teaching of Jesus being the New Adam: “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1 Cor 15: 22, 45). As Adam’s disobedience gave way to the world’s sin, Christ’s obedience to the Father redeemed mankind. Thus, Christ is the new Adam.
Naturally, saints have extended this teaching to Mary. Eve, like Mary, was created full of grace; however, her disobedience, along with Adam’s led the world to sin. On the other hand, Mary’s obedience, through her fiat when the angel Gabriel appeared to her, cooperated in Christ’s act of redeeming.
It may sound similar to “co-president” or “co-captain” in which both roles are equal. However, the “co” in “Co-Redemptrix” refers to Mary’s cooperation with Christ in the work of redemption, where she is subordinate to Christ. Mary too needed a savior, Our Lord, who redeemed her through her Immaculate Conception. The title of Co-Redemptrix does not imply equality, for God did not need Mary, but her cooperation with God’s will is complete.
All moves circularly from and back to God, what Saint Aquinas calls “The Great Circle of Being.” So, where the old Adam and old Eve fell into sin, the New Adam and New Eve redeem. Just as it was with humanity’s cooperation that the world fell into sin, so it is with humanity’s cooperation that the world is redeemed. This cooperation is found perfectly––or as perfect as a human can be––in Mary, since her Immaculate Conception and is forevermore. When our will is in union with the Lord’s, when we say “yes” to Him as Mary did, we too are “co-redemptrices.” Yet this is in a very minor way, for our cooperation with the Lord could never match Mary’s. Her total surrender and union with the Lord’s will is the pinnacle for any of us to reach.
It is her will which conforms, and thus is subordinate to His. Thus, the title of Co-Redemptrix highlights Mary’s subordination, reminding us how Jesus is the redeemer first. Mary is Co-Redemptrix not because of what she did, but because of what Jesus did. Mary merely cooperated with His incarnation and suffered with Him in His although in the most loyal way. In the sense that Jesus is the most faithful disciple to the Father, and thus Jesus is raised by the Father. Mary is Jesus’ first and most loyal disciple, and so He raises her. In other words, the title of Co-Redemptrix is a result of how Jesus looks at Mary as cooperator; He is the first to see His mother as Co-Redemptrix. We, as the faithful, are imitating Jesus when we call her Co-Redemptrix.
Jesus, as the Giver, shares all that He is. Thus, with Mary being the most obedient disciple to Christ and so the most open to Him, she receives the most of His divinity out of all creatures. God treats Mary as divine as possible for a creature, but Mary is nothing without Jesus like just as we are nothing without Christ. Unlike us, she is always loyal to Him. She is Co-Redemptrix because she was given the grace and chance to cooperate with Him to the fullest, and because she obeyed. Everything about Mary comes from her Son. Therefore, Mary’s title as Co-Redemptrix neither subtracts nor adds to the redeeming power of Christ. It is a reflection of her role as our mother and the Lord’s cooperator who guides us to redemption. Even though the Church has not yet declared it dogma, Mary’s identity as Co-Redemptrix is magisterial, valid, and has always been true. The more important question may not be of titles but the following: Do we allow Mary, the Co-Redemptrix, to inspire us to fully cooperate, as she did, with the Lord?
Featured image courtesy of Lawrence OP via Flicker
Lourdes Macaspac, graduate of the class of 2021, wrote for The Torch as a C101 writer during her first three years and as a Faith Feature Columnist during her senior year. At BC, she majored in a bunch of things, enjoyed giving her time to service, and cared greatly for her friends. Through the fleeting sweet and sometimes chaotic moments, she rediscovered the meaning of her life: sanctity.
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