Bishop Athanasius Schneider has publicly defended the traditional Marian titles “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of All Graces” following the release of a new Vatican doctrinal note that discourages their use.
Related: Vatican formally rejects use of title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ in new Marian document
In an article published on Vatican correspondent Diane Montagna’s Substack, Bishop Schneider said it was impossible that “the Church’s saints, doctors, and popes have for centuries led the faithful astray through a consistently inappropriate use” of these titles.
His comments come days after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued Mater Populi Fidelis on 4 November, stating that “it is always inappropriate to use the title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ to define Mary’s cooperation” in the work of redemption.
The Vatican document explains that such language could obscure the unique salvific role of Christ and “create confusion and an imbalance in the harmony of the truths of the Christian faith”.
The English version was later corrected to include the word “always”, aligning it with the Spanish and Italian originals, both of which describe the title as “always inappropriate”. Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said the change was made “to better reflect the original (Spanish)”.
In his response, Bishop Schneider said the faithful “do not depart from the right path of faith nor from a sound and well-informed piety toward Christ and His Mother” when adhering to the Church’s traditional teaching on Mary’s cooperation in redemption. He argued that the ordinary magisterium, along with the saints and doctors of the Church, have “taught the Marian doctrines of Coredemption and Mediation” for centuries.
Citing St Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop Schneider recalled that Mary “by yielding obedience, became the cause of salvation, both to herself and the whole human race.” He pointed to a succession of papal teachings supporting the titles, including Adjutricem Populi of Pope Leo XIII, Ad Diem Illum of Pope St Pius X, and Mediator Dei of Pope Pius XII. Pope St John Paul II, he noted, frequently employed the terms “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of All Graces” in his public addresses.
Quoting St Pius X, Bishop Schneider recalled that Mary “entirely participating in His Passion … merited to become most worthily the Reparatrix of the lost world and Dispensatrix of all the gifts that Our Saviour purchased for us by His Death and by His Blood.”
He added that “the term Co-Redemptrix, which by itself denotes a simple cooperation in the Redemption of Jesus Christ, has for several centuries in theological language … carried the specific meaning of a secondary and dependent cooperation.” Properly used, he said, the title poses “no serious difficulty.”
The doctrinal note Mater Populi Fidelis was presented in Rome by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who said the text was prepared under Pope Francis and modified by Pope Leo XIV.
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