Should Mary be declared co-redemptrix?
One of the items posted by the Roman Catholic
Zenit News Agency for Monday 11 February 2008 read as follows –
Cardinals Hoping
for a 5th Marian Dogma
To Declare Mary as Mother of Humanity
ROME, FEBRUARY. 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Five cardinals have sent a
letter inviting prelates worldwide to join them in petitioning Benedict XVI to declare a fifth Marian dogma
they said would "proclaim the full Christian truth about Mary."The text, released last week, includes the petition
that asks the Pope to
proclaim Mary as
"the Spiritual Mother of All Humanity, the co-redemptrix with Jesus the redeemer, mediatrix
of all graces with Jesus the one mediator, and advocate with Jesus Christ on
behalf of the human race"…
The petition states:
"We believe the time opportune for a solemn definition of clarification
regarding the constant teaching of the Church concerning the Mother of the
Redeemer and her
unique cooperation in the work of Redemption, as well as her subsequent roles in the distribution of
grace and intercession for the human family"… The text adds that the move would be "the ultimate
expression of doctrinal clarity at the service of our Christian and
non-Christian brothers and sisters who are not in communion with Rome"… The statement added, "This initiative also intends to
start an in-depth worldwide dialogue on Mary's role in salvation for our time”… Cardinal Aponte Martínez, one of
the cardinal co-patrons said: "I believe
the time is now for the papal definition of the relationship of the Mother of Jesus to the each one of
us, her earthly children, in her roles as co-redemptrix, mediatrix of all graces and advocate.
Back
in 1998 there were similar Roman Catholic groundswells of opinion to have the
then Pope John Paul II issue the very same dogmatic declaration. I was invited
to participate in a Channel 5 “Crossfire” televised debate on the subject with
a Jesuit Priest, Richard Foley who was very much in favour of the idea and you
can listen to an audio version [28 minutes] of the debate by going to this link
http://www.takeheed.co.uk/ You
will find the debate listed as London 1998: Debate: Should Mary be
declared co-redemptrix? under the REAL
AUDIO section.
Cecil Andrews –
‘Take Heed’ Ministries – 12 February
2008