Roman Catholic Maryology: Mary in Roman Catholicism, part 16 - Co-Redeemer?

At a glance:
In Catholic writings we often find that Mary is referred to as our co-redeemer. However, she was in need of redemption herself, she was aware of this and the Bible teaches that God Himself is the redeemer. Below we will see Where is Mary Called Co-Redeemer? and What Saith the Bible? Technically speaking Mary’s role as co-redeemer has not, as of yet, been officially proclaimed as dogma by the Vatican. Nevertheless, the concept of Mary as co-redeemer has long been peppered throughout Roman Catholic writings.
Here we will see the usual two-sided doctrines about Mary. One side attempts to give a sober reason for referring to her as co-redeemer while the other side is the actual practice that bestows upon her power and position that belongs to God alone.

Where is Mary Called Co-Redeemer?:
Pope Paul VI, “‘she shines forth to the whole community of the elect as a model of the virtues’...participating in the redeeming sacrifice of the Son.”1

“In his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam (1954), Pius XII taught, ‘^{Certainly, in the full and strict meaning of the term, only Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is King; but Mary, too, as Mother of the divine Christ, as His associate in the redemption, in His struggle with His enemies and His final victory over them, has a share, though in a limited and analogous way, in His royal dignity}’ (no. 39).”2

“The title coredemptrix has been used since the fifteenth century, and was first officially sanctioned by the Papacy when Pius X ascribed it to Mary in 1908.”3

Associate Professor Alan Schreck, “When Mary is given such titles as ‘Mediatrix’ or ‘Coredemptress,’ extreme care must be taken to explain that Mary has only been given a share in the mediation and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Nothing she has done or could do in herself merits or gives salvation.”4

Anthony Wilhelm, “Her faith and obedience to God’s will was total. In heaven now, she continues to totally desire God’s will, asking for whatever he wills to give to men. It is in this light that we must understand such terms as ‘spiritual mother,’ ‘mediatrix,’ ‘co-redemptrix,’ and ‘Queen.’”5

“From 1945 to 1959 a woman in Amsterdam, Ida Peerdeman, received messages in which Mary states that she wants to be addressed ‘in these Our times’ as ‘The Lady of All Nations.’ On May 31, 1996, public veneration of the Mother of God under this title was officially authorized by the two bishops of Haarlem-Amsterdam. Our Lady also requests that official recognition of her vocation as ‘Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate,’ promising that ‘The Lady of All Nations will then grant peace, true peace, to the world.’…she promises to grant them [grace, redemption and peace] to everyone who says this prayer before a crucifix or this image.”6
The prayer includes these words “May the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate.” “The meaning of ‘who once was Mary,’ is explained by the Lady of All nations herself: ‘…many people have known Mary as Mary. Now, however, in this new era, which is about to begin, I wish to be the Lady of All Nations. Everyone understand this.’ (July 2, 1951)”7

Pope Paul VI, “^{the blessed Virgin Mary, after participating in the redeeming sacrifice of the Son, and in such an intimate way as to deserve to be proclaimed by Him the…of mankind which he in some way represents}…Jesus Himself, by giving her to us as our Mother, has tacitly indicated her as the model to be followed.”8

The Catholic Catechism #964, “Mary’s role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ…in the work of salvation…enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice.”

Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., “But the most cogent reason [for the doctrine], later on adopted by Pius XII, was the participation by Christ’s mother in his redemption of the world.”9

Fr. Hardon also states, “While co-operating with Christ’s redemptive task, by freely consenting to all that he asked of her…It was through the Redemption that the Savior exercised his mediatorial reconciliation, and that his mother shares in the process.”10

Rev. James Killgallon and Rev. Gerard Weber, “It was Mary whom the Father chose to be the mother of his Son. But Mary’s work did not end even with this most exalted of roles. God chose, also, to use her cooperation in the work of redeeming us.”11

They also explain that “only Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is king; but Mary, too, as mother of the divine Christ, as his associate in the redemption…[she] has a share, though in a limited analogous way, in his royal dignity. She is also called ‘Co-Redemptrix.’”12

Again Killgallon and Weber, ^{“For if through his humanity the Divine Word performs miracles and gives graces, if he uses his sacraments and saints as instruments for the salvation of men, why should he not make use of the role and the work of his most holy mother in imparting to us the fruits of the redemption?”}13

Karl Rahner, “Mary, of the same race as ourselves, is the portal of eternal mercy, the gate of heaven, through which we are in fact saved and redeemed and taken up into the life of God…it is her grace and her deed, placing her whole self, body and soul, at the service of God and his redemptive mercy to humankind. And since this divine motherhood—as an act of faith personally made—belongs intrinsically to the history of redemption, it gives Mary a real relationship to us, for we are living in the history of redemption which she has decisively influenced.”14

Francis X. Durwell, “[Mary] bore in her flesh the seed of salvation, she gave birth to Christ, and was associated in the work of redemption, for her own salvation and the salvation of the world.”15

Fr. Faber, “[Mary] alone, of all her race, was privileged to co-operate in the work of Redemption by her own free choice…those who thus ignore the love and intercession of the Blessed Virgin rob the religion of Christ of a legitimate tenderness and sweetness they can never know.”16

Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, “The fact that Mary became the mother of Christ gave her a unique role in the economy of redemption, because it was through her mediation that the Savior entered the world.”17

At Carmel, Fatima and Lourdes “The visions of Our Lady called attention to her role in the economy of redemption and to the old Christian doctrine of prayer and penance.”18
Alliance of the Two Hearts, “O Heart of Jesus living in Mary and by Mary! O Heart of Mary living in Jesus and for Jesus! O Heart of Jesus pierced for our sins and giving us Your mother on Calvary! ^{O heart of Mary pierced by sorrow and sharing in the sufferings of your Divine Son for our redemption!}”19

What Saith the Bible?:
What more can we say but to let Scripture speak for itself, the Scripture is the Word of God, we will now see what God says on this issue.

“O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

“They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer” (Psalm 78:35).

“‘Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you,’ declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:14)

“This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6)

“all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26).

“Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth” (Psalm 31:5).

“No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—that he should live on forever and not see decay…But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself” (Psalm 49:7-9. 15).

“O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins” (Psalm 130:7-8).

Before His resurrection it was said of Jesus, “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21).

“God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

“we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness” (Titus 2:13-14).

Seems Clear Enough:
What more could be said than that the Bible is perfectly clear on this subject and that is why Catholic apologists walk on eggshells, as it were, when they set out to explain how Mary (or anyone but God) could be called our redeemer. We also learn that this idea comes, in part, from the sayings of an apparition and that it exists nowhere in the Bible, which is why we are presented with Yes/But theology. Yes God is our one and only redeemer, But Mary is a co-redeemer.
Yet, God said, “I myself” along with no other. “the one” not one of the ones nor one of the two. “full redemption” not in part and having the other part be done by a co-redeemer. “He himself” with not need of help. “all their sins” complete redemption by the Lord God Himself.

1. 1. His Holiness Pope Paul VI; Signum Magnum, Letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Promulgated on May 13, 1967 Given in Rome, at St. Peter, on the fourth of our pontificate. PAULUS PP. VI -PART I
2. 2. Managing Editor Mark Brumley, “Queen of Heaven: Pagan Divinity or Royal Mother of the Messiah?,” The Catholic Faith magazine, Catholic.net ‘00
3. 3. Elliot Miller, “Part Two: From Lowly Handmaid to Queen of Heaven, The Mary of Roman Catholicism,” Christian Research Journal, Fall 1990, p. 29
4. 4. Alan Schreck; Associate Professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, Catholic and Christian, An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs (Ann Arbor, MI.: Servant Books, 1984), Nihil Obstat: Monsignor Joseph P. Malara-Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Most Reverend Albert H. Ottenweller-Bishop of Steubenville. p. 172
5. 5. Anthony Wilhelm, Christ Among Us, A Modern Presentation of the Catholic Faith-Third Revised Edition (New York: Paulist Press, 1981) Nihil Obstat: Rev. Charles W. Gusmer Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Most Rev. Peter L. Gerety, D.D. Archbishop of Newark. p. 394
6. 6. The image is of Mary standing on the Earth, with a cross behind her, rays shining forth from her hands and a large group of lambs underneath the Earth.
7. 7. The Lady of All Nations (Amsterdam: The Shrine of “Our Lady of All Nations,” 1999) Imprimatur: Appr. Devot. Publ. Harlem, 5-31-96. Harlem, 1-7-51 H.J.A. Bomers, C.M., Episc. Harl. Westminster, 9-24-70 Dr. J.M. Punt, Epic. Aux. Harl.
8. 8. His Holiness Pope Paul VI; Signum Magnum, Letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Promulgated on May 13, 1967 Given in Rome, at St. Peter, on the fourth of our pontificate. PAULUS PP. VI — PART I & II: Devout Imitation of the Virtues of the Most Holy Mary
9. 9. Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.; a leading authority in his field, he is also a professor in the Institute for Advanced Studies in Catholic Doctrine, The Catholic Catechism, A Contemporary Catechism of the Teachings of the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1966) Nihil Obstat: Daniel V. Flynn, J.C.D., Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: James P. Mahoney, D.D. Vicar General Archdiocese of New York 12-13-74. p.155
10. 10. Fr. John A. Hardon, p. 167-168
11. 11. Reverends James Killgallon and Gerard Weber, Life in Christ, Instructions in the Catholic Faith (Chicago: Life in Christ, 1958) Nihil Obstat: Rev. Thomas F. Sullivan, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Most Rev. Cletus F. O’Donnell, J.C.D., Vicar General Archdiocese of Chicago 11-20-66. p. 131
12. 12. Encyclical on the Queenship of Mary and Encyclical on the Mystical Body, 128, quoted by Reverends James Killgallon and Gerard Weber, pp. 132-133
13. 13. Ibid., p. 133
14. 14. Karl Rahner (1904-1984); a Jesuit and leading Catholic theologian, professor of dogmatic theology in Australia and West Germany. Mary, Mother of the Lord, pp. 59-61, quoted in Fr. John Rotelle, O.S.A., ed., Mary’s Yes, Meditations on Mary through the ages (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Redeemer Books, Servant Publications, 1988), p. 158
15. 15. Francis X. Durwell; Redemtorist who wrote on the theme of Christ’s resurrection. In the redeeming Christ, pp. 288-289, quoted in John Rotelle, O.S.A., ed., Mary’s Yes, Meditations on Mary through the ages (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Redeemer Books, Servant Publications, 1988), p. 161
16. 16. Fr. Faber quoted in John L. Stoddard, Rebuilding a Lost Faith (New York: P. J. Kenedy and Sons, nd.) Nihil Obstat: C. Schut, D.D., Censor Deutatus. Imprimatur: Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius Generalis. Westmonasteri, Die 21 Martii, 1922. p. 177
17. 17. Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, Mary in the Thought of Saint Augustine, quoted in John Rotelle, p. 186
18. 18. Most Rev. E. K. Lynch, O. Carm. General of the Carmelite Order, The Scapular of Carmel (Washington: World Apostolate of Mary, AMI Press, nd) Nihil Obstat: Romae, 20 Januarii 1955, Kennetus Leahy, Censor Dep.. Imprimatur: E Vicariatu Civit, Vatic., 1 Martii 1955, Fr. Canisius van Lierde, Ep. Porphyr. Vic. Gen. Civ. Vat. p. 5
19. 19. Alliance of the Two Hearts (Two Hearts Media Organization printed in the USA, 1997), p. 5. Nihil Obstat: +Most Rev. Leo Drona, SDB, DD, Bishop of San Jose, Bueva Ecija, 10-13-97. Imprimatur: +His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, DD, Archbishop of Cebu 10-13-97