Vatican Says No to Calling Mary “Co-Redemptrix.”

Mary is the Mother of God, but she is not the “Co-Redemptrix” or “Mediatrix of all Graces,” and it is “not appropriate” for Catholics to refer to her in this manner.

That is a blunt summation of the longish doctrinal note, Mater Populi Fidelis, published by the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith and signed by Pope Leo week before last. Of course, the Vatican, being the Vatican, smudges the edges of the teaching by allowing that, yes, it is ok to describe Our Mother as the “Co-Redemptrix” but only with a long string of religious-speak caveats, so it’s not really ok. 

The primary problem with the title of “Co-Redemptrix” is that it gives the appearance of elevating Mary to the Godhead, of making her equal to Jesus Himself. The doctrinal note didn’t say this precisely, but it seemed to say that naming Our Lady as “Co-Redemptrix” would lead to the assumption on the part of many people that the Catholic Church was teaching that there is another Way that leads to eternal life other than through Jesus. 

That meaning may not be the intent of those who support the title. But it would still be taken that way by many people, and that would engender confusion, debate and accusations. Those accusations and the subsequent debate would in turn require lengthy and often misunderstood explanations every time it was used. 

I think the point is well taken. I also think that the debate would often become rancorous and ultimately weaken the faith of many people rather than strengthen it. All of this, because of the use of a title which, while it is beautiful and if properly understood, worthy, is not a core issue of the faith. 

Especially in times like this, we need to do what Jesus did and keep the main thing the main thing. 

Our faith has two Main Things. Those two Main Things are the Cross and the Empty Tomb.

I’m going to write a lot more about this, but for now I’ll just say that the entire Bible, from beginning to end, is the story of the Cross and the Empty Tomb. Everything and everyone else in Scripture is a supporting character to the two Main Things.

The Cross and the Empty Tomb are the fulcrum of history. Those two events and our reaction to them are the Main Things of human history. How we react to the reality of the Cross and the Empty tomb determines how we live, what we value, the things we do, and all we can ever hope to be. 

There is no compromise with the brutal reality of the Cross. There is no moderate response to the transforming promise of the Empty Tomb. You either kneel with humility at the Cross and rejoice with even greater humility before the Empty Tomb, or you deeply, profoundly do not “get” it.

The Cross and the Empty Tomb demand an all or nothing response. You are either all-in for Jesus, or you are not His at all. Christianity is not a moderate faith. It is radical and transformative from its core.

We are living through times when the Main Things have been set aside except for a brief celebration at Easter, which is often more about Easter bunnies and egg hunts than the Passover which subsumed and consummated the first Passover in Egypt. We try to tame the radical reality of Christianity. We have bought it and sold it and perverted it in the service of mammon. 

We don’t need to add another diversion to further dilute our focus on the Main Things. Not in a time when the direct teachings of Christ are being publicly repudiated by right wing clergy. Not when millions of people who call themselves “Christians” are following these false shepherds who are leading them away from the Risen Christ. 

These challenges to the basics of the faith by unfaithful but very influential fallen clergy require clarity on the part of those who would affirm that Jesus Christ is Lord. We cannot afford pretty complications. 

This is a time for simple, direct witness to the basics of our faith by all of us. 

I know, and I’m going to write about in depth, that Our Lady is not a diversion from the Cross and the Empty Tomb. Just as she did with Jesus Himself at the wedding at Cana, Our Mother points us toward the Main Things, not away from them. 

At the same time, I agree with the point that the Doctrinal Note makes that this title is too-easily misunderstood, and that these misunderstandings would confuse and even alienate a lot of people. Instead of pointing people to the Cross and the Empty Tomb, it would almost certainly divert many of them away.

I’m going to continue this discussion all this week. In the meantime, I think it might be good for all of us to pray the Apostle’s Creed. I pray the Creed often because it grounds me. I believe what it teaches.

I believe in God,

The Father Almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 

Born of the Virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, died and was buried;

He descended into hell;

On the third day he rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

And is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; 

From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 

The Holy Catholic Church,

The communion of saints, 

The forgiveness of sins, 

The Resurrection of the dead, 

And life everlasting. 

Amen.