Vatican clarifies Mary's role in Salvation

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has today published the Doctrinal Note Mater Populi fidelis (“Mother of the Faithful People”), a document that addresses in theological depth the meaning and limits of certain Marian titles, such as Corredentora y Mediator, The Virgin Mary's cooperation in the work of salvation is also well understood.

The text, signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery, responds to numerous consultations received over the past decades on Marian devotion. Its main purpose is to clarify the place of the Virgin in the mystery of Christ, the only Mediator and Redeemer, and to offer safe criteria in the face of inappropriate interpretations or expressions spread even on social networks.

Mary, Mother and intercessor at the service of the only Redeemer

The Note reaffirms Mary's spiritual motherhood and her unique role in salvation history, but stresses that her cooperation must always be understood as subordinate to Christ. It is always inopportune to use the title of “Mother of God. Corredentora to define Mary's cooperation,” the text indicates, recalling that such a term can obscure the unique mediation of Jesus Christ and «can generate confusion and an imbalance in the harmony of truths of the Christian faith».

Likewise, the document points out that Mary is not a dispenser of divine grace, but an intercessor and model of faith. «Only God can give grace and He does so through the Humanity of Christ, since ‘the fullness of grace of Christ the man He has as the only begotten of the Father,'» reads one of the paragraphs.

With a pastoral and ecumenical approach, the Doctrinal Note seeks to value popular Marian piety, especially that of the poor who “find the tenderness and love of God in the face of Mary,” while at the same time avoiding theological exaggerations that distort the Gospel message.

The document includes an extensive biblical, patristic and magisterial development, and is in line with the Second Vatican Council, which proposes a Marian cult “oriented to the Christological center of the Christian faith, so that ‘while the Mother is honored, the Son is duly known, loved and glorified’. In short, Mary's motherhood is subordinated to the Father's choice, to the work of Christ and to the action of the Holy Spirit».

“More than setting limits, Mater Populi fidelis seeks to accompany and sustain love for Mary and trust in her maternal intercession,” concludes Cardinal Fernandez.