Citizendia


A series of articles on
Roman Catholic
Mariology

General articles
Mariology • Veneration of the Blessed Virgin • History of Mariology • Papal teachings • Mariology of the saints

Devotions
Rosary • Immaculate Heart • 7 Sorrows • Acts of Reparation
Dogmas and Doctrines

Doctrines • Mother of God • Perpetual virginity • Immaculate Conception • Assumption • Mediatrix • Co-Redemptrix

Artistic forms
Art • Music • Architecture

Marian apparitions
(approved or worthy of belief)
Guadalupe • La Salette • Lourdes • Pontmain • Knock • Fatima • Banneux • Beauraing

Co-Redemptrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the redemption process. Mariology is the theological study of Mary which methodically presents teachings about her to other parts of the faith such as teachings about Jesus Christ, redemption This article is about the Roman Catholic understanding of Mary and her veneration; for other views see Mary (mother of Jesus and Islamic view The history of Roman Catholic Mariology traces theological developments and views regarding Mary from the early Church to the twentieth century Catholic Mariology is the Encyclopedic area of Theology concerned with Mary the Mother of God, not only with her Life, but her Veneration Catholic Mariology is the area of Theology concerned with Mary the Mother of God, not only with her Life, but her Veneration in daily life The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. The Immaculate Heart of Mary originally The Sacred Heart of Mary is a devotional name used by Roman Catholics and some Anglo-Catholics to refer Our Lady of Sorrows (Latin Beata Maria Virgo Perdolens) the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows (Latin Mater Dolorosa) Our Lady Roman Catholic tradition and Mariology include specific prayers and devotions as Acts of reparation for insults and blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary See also Mariology (Roman Catholic, Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic The Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church have their See also Mariology (Roman Catholic, Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic The Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church have their Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church and also of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy, which For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. This article is about the theological concept For the works of art with this title see Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Art and Roman Catholic Marian art. Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvation process The Blessed Virgin Mary has been one of the major subjects of Christian Art, Catholic Art and Western Art for many centuries Roman Catholic Marian music shares a trait with some other forms of Christian music in adding another emotional dimension to the process of veneration and in being used A Marian apparition is an event in which the Virgin Mary is believed to have Supernaturally appeared to one or more persons regardless of their religious faith This article is about Roman Catholic views on dogma For general views see Dogma Dogma (Roman Catholic explains the concept Our Lady of Guadalupe, also called the Virgin of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Virgen de Guadalupe is a 16th century Roman Catholic Mexican La Salette is a small mountaintop village near Grenoble, France. The apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes began on 11 February 1858 when Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year old peasant girl from Lourdes admitted when questioned Our Lady of Hope is the title given to the Virgin Mary on her apparition at Pontmain, France on January 17, 1871. Our Lady Queen of Ireland, is used as the term for the shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary set up following a Marian apparition in Knock, Ireland Our Lady of Fátima (ˈfatimɐ is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by those who believe that she appeared to three shepherd children at Fátima Mariette Beco was a native of Banneux, Belgium in the 1930s She is best known for being associated with the Roman Catholic Marian apparitions This article is about the Roman Catholic understanding of Mary and her veneration; for other views see Mary (mother of Jesus and Islamic view It is a separate concept from Mediatrix. Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvation process

The concept of Co-redemptrix refers to an indirect or unequal but important participation by the Blessed Virgin Mary in redemption. She gave free consent to give life to the redeemer, to share his life, to suffer with him under the cross and to sacrifice him for the sake of the redemption of humankind.

Contents

Origin

Co-redemption is not a new concept. Even before the year 200, the Church Father Irenaeus referred to Mary as "causa salutis" [cause of our salvation] given her "fiat"[1] It is a teaching which has been considered since the 15th century [2] but never declared a dogma. Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France

A number of theologians have discussed the concept over the years, from the 19th century Father Frederick William Faber's book The Sorrows of Mary, to the highly respected 20th century mariologist (and advisor to the Holy Office) Father Gabriel Roschini. Frederick William Faber ( June 28 1814 - September 26 1863) British Hymn writer and theologian, was born at Gabriel M Roschini, OSM (1900 - †1977 was a Roman Catholic Italian priest and professor of Mariology, who published over 900 titles on Mariology [3]

The Roman Catholic view of Co-Redemptrix does not imply that Mary participates as equal part in the redemption of the human race, since Christ is the only redeemer [4] Mary herself needed redemption and was redeemed by Jesus Christ her son. Being redeemed by Christ, implies that she cannot be his equal part in the redemption process. [5]

Papal teachings

Popes began to mention the concept of Co-Redemptrix in official Church documents in the very early part of the 20th century, and continued to do so throughout that century. [6]

Pope Pius X

In 1904, in the very first year of his Pontificate, in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate conception, Pope Pius X issued his encyclical Ad Diem Illum which is an important document, because it explains his mariology. For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. Saint Pius X ( Latin: Pius PP X) ( June 2, 1835 &mdash August 20, 1914) born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the Ad diem Illum Laetissimum is an encyclical of Saint Pope Pius X on the Immaculate Conception, Given at Rome in St In the encyclical he stated:

We are then, it will be seen, very far from attributing to the Mother of God a productive power of grace - a power which belongs to God alone. Yet, since Mary carries it over all in holiness and union with Jesus Christ, and has been associated by Jesus Christ in the work of redemption, she merits for us de congruo, in the language of theologians, what Jesus Christ merits for us de condigno, and she is the supreme Minister of the distribution of graces. [7]

To date, theologians continue to debate whether the Pontiff refered here to the Co-Redemptrix or to the Mediatrix of all graces, yet he clearly started the 20th century discussion on the role of the Virgin Mary in redemption and salvation.

Pope Benedict XV

Pope Benedict XV first described the term in his own right in his Apostolic Letter, Inter Soldalica, issued on March 22, 1918: [8]

As the Blessed Virgin Mary does not seem to participate in the public life of Jesus Christ, and then, suddenly appears at the stations of his cross, she is not there without divine intention. Pope Benedict XV ( Latin: Benedictus PP XV) (Benedetto XV ( November 21 1854 &ndash January 22 1922 born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa Ecclesiastical letters are publications or announcements of the organs of Roman Catholic ecclesiastical authority e She suffers with her suffering and dying son, almost as if she would have died herself. For the salvation of mankind, she gave up her rights as the mother of her son and sacrificed him for the reconciliation of divine justice, as far as she was permitted to do. Therefore, one can say, she redeemed with Christ the human race. [9]

Pope Pius XII

Pope Pius XII repeated the same argument with slightly different tones in his 1943 encyclical Mystici Corporis:

It was she, the second Eve, who, free from all sin, original or personal, and always more intimately united with her Son, offered Him on Golgotha to the Eternal Father for all the children of Adam, sin-stained by his unhappy fall, and her mother's rights and her mother's love were included. Pope Mystici Corporis Christi (June 29 1943 is a Papal encyclical issued by Pope Pius XII during World War II, on the [10]

In the Papal bull Munificentissimus Deus on dogma of the assumption, Pope Pius XII declared that:

“the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, as the noble associate of the divine Redeemer[11]

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II continued to use the term Co-Redemptrix on several occasions, but he did not issue an encyclical on it - yet he discussed the related (but not equivalent) concept of Mediatrix in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater. Munificentissimus Deus ( Latin for "The most bountiful God " is the name of an Apostolic constitution written by Pope Pius XII Pope Pope Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvation process Redemptoris Mater is the title of a Mariological Encyclical by Pope John Paul II, delivered on March 25 1987 in Saint Peter's Basilica During his General Audience of September 8th 1982 Pope John Paul II greeted the sick with the words:

"Mary, though conceived and born without the taint of sin, participated in a marvellous way in the suffering of her divine Son, in order to be Co-Redemptrix of humanity". Pope [12]

On Jan 31, 1985 in Guayaquil, Ecuador he said:

"As she was in a special way close to the cross of her Son, she also had to have a privileged experience of his Resurrection. In fact, Mary's role as Co-Redemptrix did not cease with the glorification of her Son. "

Later in 1985 he was quoted by the official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano as follows:

"May, Mary our Protectress, the Co-Redemptrix, to whom we offer our prayer with great outpouring, make our desire generously correspond to the desire of the Redeemer"[13]

Proposed dogmatic definition

The formal declaration of Co-Redemptrix as a fifth Marian dogma has had both popular and ecclesiastical support with millions of signatures gathered. L'Osservatore Romano ( English: The Roman Observer) is the "semi-official" Newspaper of the Holy See. Yet opposition to it exists within some Vatican circles on ecumenical grounds and on the basis on the need for further clarity.

Any new dogma regarding Co-Redemptrix would not be totally new, but be based on existing Marian dogma. This article is about Roman Catholic views on dogma For general views see Dogma Dogma (Roman Catholic explains the concept It would therefore hold in some form, that "Mary is Co-Redemptrix (Co-operator in the Redemption), because, (1) as the immaculately conceived Mother of God, who is full of grace and free of any sin, she assists her son, the Son of God in his redemptive mission. For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, (2) Any dogma would likely be based on her assumption into heaven. Because she is already assumed into heaven, Mary can effectively continue her saving office as Advocate and Mediatrix of all grace by her constant intercession to obtain for all men the gifts of salvation. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another person especially in a legal context Actual grace is in Catholic Theology, a supernatural help of God -- Divine grace -- for salutary acts In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of (3) Any dogma would likely attempt to clarify Catholic teaching, that Mary's role is subordinate to and always dependent upon the essential and chief role of her Son. "

Vatican II

The dogmatic definition of Co-Redemptrix was brought up at Vatican II by Italian, Spanish and Polish bishops but not dealt with. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. [14] Subsequently, Popes, while sympathetic to requests from the faithful and bishops, did not include such language in their encyclicals.

Opposing views

A dogmatic definition proposal is not supported by all Catholics, partly based on the argument that such a dogma might limit the redemptive role of Jesus Christ, and partly based on the argument that it would also complicate ecumencical efforts for a better understanding of the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in he salvation mystery of Jesus Christ. According to Father Stefano de Fiores, a member of the International Pontifical Marian Academy Marianum:

"from the conciliar and ecumenical point of view, it is certainly not opportune to proclaim this dogma at this time. The Marianum is both the name of a Pontifical institute for the study of Mariology and the name of the prestigious journal of Marian theology The separated brethren, Protestants and Orthodox, reproach us for not consulting them in regard to the last dogmas on Mary. This is why I think that a dogma of this type would have to include their participation". (Therefore) "Pontiffs do not mention it precisely so as not to cause a misunderstanding with the Protestants". [15]

Popular and ecclesiastical support

The history of mariological dogmas on the Immaculate Conception and Assumption show that dogmatic developments take often many centuries and long processes for maturation. For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. This article is about the theological concept For the works of art with this title see Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Art and Roman Catholic Marian art. And popular support has always been the engine for Marian the clarification of Marian teachings in the Roman Catholic Church. Without such support, the dogmas of the Immaculate conception and the Assumption of Mary into heaven would probably not have been possible.

In the early 1990s Professor Mark Miravalle of the Franciscan University of Steubenville and author of the book Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate launched a popular petition to urge Pope John Paul II to use Papal infallibility to declare Mary as Co-Redemptrix. Dr Mark I Miravalle STD husband permanent deacon and father of eight began teaching at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1986 Franciscan University of Steubenville is a Catholic institution located in Steubenville Ohio, 40 miles west of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Pope Papal infallibility is the Dogma in Catholic theology that by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of More than six million signatures were gathered from 148 countries, including those of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Cardinal John O'Connor of New York, and 41 other cardinals and 550 bishops. Mother Teresa, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, (born August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997) was an Albanian ref>Spink For the former US Representative from New York see John J O'Connor.

The petitions continue to date. On February 8, 2008 five Roman Catholic Cardinals issued a petition asking Pope Benedict XVI to dogmatically declare the Blessed Virgin Mary as both Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix. Pope Benedict XVI ( Latin: Benedictus PP XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvation process The five Cardinals were: Telesphore Toppo, Luis Aponte Martínez, Varkey Vithayathil, Riccardo Vidal, and Ernesto Corripio y Ahumada. The Cardinals also included a votum (i. e. petition) that would allows other cardinals and bishops to also request the same from the pontiff. To date over 500 bishops have sent in their votums to the Vatican in support of a fifth Marian dogma. [16]. And a lay movement called Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici provides petitions that can be signed by Roman Catholics at large and sent to the Pope in support of a formal dogmatic definition. [17][18]

References

Notes

  1. ^ . "http://www.zenit.org/article-5650?l=english
  2. ^ Ott 256
  3. ^ Gabriel Roschini, Compendium Mariologiae, Roma 1946. Gabriel M Roschini, OSM (1900 - †1977 was a Roman Catholic Italian priest and professor of Mariology, who published over 900 titles on Mariology
  4. ^ 1Tim 2,5
  5. ^ Ott Dogmatics 256
  6. ^ Ott 256.
  7. ^ Ad diem Illum 14
  8. ^ AAS, 1918, 181
  9. ^ AAS, 1918, 181
  10. ^ Mystici Corporis 110
  11. ^ Munificentissimus Deus 40
  12. ^ (Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, I, V/3 (1982) 404).
  13. ^ (Inseg VIII/1 (1985) L'Osservatore Romano 880:12).
  14. ^ Otto Hermann Pesch Das Zweite Vatikanische Konzil, Echter, 1993, 194.
  15. ^ http://www.zenit.org/article-5650?l=english
  16. ^ Vatican News on the Mediatrix Petition to the Pope http://www.zenit.org/article-21743?l=english
  17. ^ EWTN article on Vox Popoli http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/MEDIATRI.HTM
  18. ^ Vox Popoli website http://www.voxpopuli.org

See also

External links

The Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix (abbreviated CMC; Vietnamese: Dòng Đức Mẹ Đồng Công or simply Dòng Đồng Công Gabriel M Roschini, OSM (1900 - †1977 was a Roman Catholic Italian priest and professor of Mariology, who published over 900 titles on Mariology
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