Earlier this year, the Theological Commission of the International Marian Association submitted a 10-page document to Pope Francis requesting that he publicly acknowledge Mary as the Co-Redemptrix with Jesus the Redeemer during the 2017 centenary of the Marian apparitions of Fatima.

The Association is comprised of 100 theologians, bishops, priests, religious and lay leaders from over 20 countries who are dedicated to the full truth and love of Mary, Mother of Jesus.

The 33-member theological commission compiled the document which highlights several main points about Mary’s role in the Redemption of mankind, beginning with her free consent to bring the Redeemer into the world, to her sharing in his Redemptive work and ultimately uniting her sufferings with Jesus on the Cross.

It traces the development of the doctrine of Mary’s Co-redemption with Jesus within Tradition which begins with the early Church’s concept of the “New Eve.” In the 10th century, the Church recognized the title of Redemptrix because of her close union with the suffering of Jesus on the Cross. In the 12th century, her compassion and being “co-crucified” with Jesus was recognized. The “Co-redemptrix” title was recognized in the 15th century. By the 19th century it was an official teaching of the Papal Magisterium and Pope Pius XI and Pope St. John Paul II repeatedly used the title.

It has also been referenced multiple times by the Magisterium, including during the second Vatican council, which ultimately decided against any formal recognition of the title in the document Lumen Gentium. 

However, it wasn’t rejected because it was false, explained Dr. Robert Fastiggi, Professor of Mariology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit to Mary Rezac of the Catholic News Agency. It was rejected because certain terms and expressions, although true in themselves, might be difficult to understand by Protestants.

Dr. Fastiggi believes a formal recognition of the title would actually help with further clarification.

“A formal papal statement would also serve the cause of ecumenism because it would help other Christians know that the Catholic Church clearly distinguishes between the saving work of Christ as the one Savior and Mediator (1 Tim 2: 5–6) and the Blessed Mother’s secondary, dependent but utterly unique cooperation with Christ in the work of redemption and the mediation of grace,” he said.

In fact, one of the points made in the document is that the Latin prefix “co” means “with” and not "equal to."

“The Co-redemptrix title never places Mary on a level of equality with Jesus Christ, the only divine Redeemer, as to do so would constitute both heresy and blasphemy. The Co-redemptrix title is meaningless without Jesus the Redeemer, and in itself focuses upon the Cross of Jesus Christ. Mary Co-redemptrix proclaims to the world that suffering is redemptive when united to the sufferings of Christ,” the Association writes.

Because of the nature of the times in which we are living, Dr. Fastiggi believes "many people sense the spread of evil in the world and see the importance of highlighting Mary’s role as spiritual Mother.” 

Unfortunately, many Catholics are not aware of the amount of informal recognition that the title “Co-Redemptrix” has already received from the magisterium.

“Some are even under the impression that we are not allowed to call Mary ‘Co-Redemptrix’—even though two popes, namely Pius XI (3 times) and St. John Paul II (at least 6 times), have publicly referred to Mary as ‘Co-Redemptrix,’” Dr. Fastiggi said.

Because this year commemorates the centenary anniversary of the historic apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima, which in itself constitutes a powerful manifestation of Our Lady’s Coredemption in action, the Association believes this would be an appropriate time for such a pronouncement. 

As the document concludes: “We, as members of the Theological Commission of the International Marian Association, and in full obedience and fidelity to His Holiness, Pope Francis, therefore humbly request that during this 2017 Fatima centenary, and in continuity with the papal precedents of Pope Pius XI and Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Francis would kindly grant public recognition and honor to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as ‘Co-redemptrix with Jesus the Redeemer.’

“We believe that a public acknowledgement of Mary’s true and continuous role with Jesus in the saving work of Redemption would justly celebrate the role of humanity in God's saving plan; foster greater devotion to the Mother of God; and lead to the release of historic graces through an even more powerful exercise of Our Lady’s maternal roles of intercession for the Church and for all humanity today.”

Let us keep this very important intention in our prayers!

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