Dec 28, 2025 / 08:00 am
Monsignor Maurizio Gronchi, an expert consultant for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, clarified that the measure established last month regarding the use of the titles “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix” for the Virgin Mary is “not an absolute prohibition” and that these titles can still be used in popular piety, provided their meaning is understood.
“It’s not an absolute prohibition, but it will no longer be used in official documents or in the liturgy. But if used in popular devotion, understanding its meaning, no one will be reprimanded for it,” the expert said in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.
The interview took place after the Nov. 4 publication of the doctrinal note “ Mother of the Faithful People” in which the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, led by Cardinal Víctor Fernández, stated that the use of the title “Co-Redemptrix” is “always inappropriate” and encourages “special prudence” regarding the title “Mediatrix of All Graces.” The text has sparked controversy among the faithful, especially among those who use these terms within the Catholic Church.
Gronchi explained that “the issue is an old one. This problem has been discussed for 99 years, since 1926. We have studied it on several occasions, and the dicastery has received numerous requests for clarification regarding these terms. These titles present a problem. There is a risk of obscuring, of not clearly explaining that the centrality of the paschal mystery of salvation lies in Jesus Christ.”
“For this reason,” the expert indicated, “now is the time to clarify these titles, so that when it is said that they have been used in the past, it will mean that it was done inappropriately. It doesn’t mean that it was wrong, but rather that a definition of these titles was not yet mature and clear.”
The consultant emphasized that the pontifical document is a doctrinal note that “deepens, clarifies, and states that these terms are not appropriate, they are not opportune, simply because Mary participates in the redemption, she collaborates in the redemption, but not in the same way as Jesus.”
After noting that the Virgin Mary is like the moon reflecting the light of the sun, a symbol of Jesus, Gronchi said that “Mary gives birth to Jesus, but on the cross, Jesus dies, not Mary. Mary participates with her heart, with her affection, with all that she is, but it is a participation that the document calls dispositive, meaning that Mary disposes us to receive the grace of Christ, but she is not the source of grace, nor the mediatrix of all graces.”
What does he say to those who are confused?
When asked what he would say to those who are confused by the new Vatican document, the expert stated that “they shouldn’t feel any confusion. They should pray to Mary and they should pray to her with the holy rosary. The rosary contains the mysteries of the life of Jesus; therefore, one prays to Mary by meditating on the mysteries of the life of Jesus.”
“This is the simplest, most popular devotion, the one that leads to heaven. The saints have already said it, and we pray to Mary with serenity. If we wish, we can also use the Litany of Loreto, which has very beautiful titles; there is no need to add anything else,” Gronchi emphasized.
“What we must say about Mary,” he concluded, “is that she is the mother of the Lord, the mother of God, the mother of the Church, the mother of the faithful people who accompany us and guide us with tenderness and great love.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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“Vatican expert: Co-Redemptrix title of Mary not absolutely prohibited”
And while we’re at it, can we also kneel to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord of the Universe?
Thanks!
The prohibition must be made absolute. No room left for any doubts. It was a strange act from the Church to promote this title, totally unjustified. Who originally promoted it made a great mistake that led the innocent faithful.
It’s official but if you say it we won’t call you rigid. At least in the near term.
All this trivial infighting shows the church has lost its way.
Just like in first century Corinth. Or Galatia. Etc. Such is the way of real people in the Church.
How so? Can you be more specific
“There is no need to add anything else.”
Good grief, if the Catholic Faith were built strictly on those things for which there is a clear and logically provable need, I rather doubt we’d have 90% of it. Like any good father, God magnanimously gives us far more than we absolutely require to scrape into heaven with. He gives us *everything He has*, to the extent of becoming our Food, witholding only what is not good for us.
The Curia can certainly make a judgement call on whether using the titles in its own documents will be helpful or not, and agree or disagree, they are the ones who should make that call. The rest of us might make a different judgement call for our circumstances. But citing a lack of need is really just citing stinginess.
Amanda,be careful. Too much common sense might overwhelm the Vatican Curia.
I find some of what comes from our hierarchs as bewildering. For example, I have seen multiple depictions of Pope Leo having his papal ring kissed by Catholics who want to honor and reverence the office he holds. Yet, we see bishops in places like Charlotte and Chicago refuse to allow Catholics to kneel to receive the Body of Christ. I guess it’s alright to show reverence to the office of the Vicar of Christ but not to Christ Himself. And, we wonder why the Church is in a state of confusion?
Deacon: We’re all very imperfect people in a very imperfect Church, Praise God!
Br. Jaques: That’s what I refer to as LCD- the Least Common Denominator. Rather, we’re fallen creatures striving for perfection. We shouldn’t go around being complacent about sin.
When you accept the truth that these people are not Catholic, you won’t be bewildered.
Jesus said, whatever you bind or loose on earth shall be done in heaven
To clarify, Fernandez’s gratuitous “always inappropriate” was inappropriate. You just can’t get good help these days.
Always inappropriate to hire someone incompetent to run a significant office, because the person might distort the substance and confuse the people. Always inappropriate to lie to people. Consider all the people who called themselves faithful last month who on a dime changed course on the Marian titles, decrying the faithful who refused to move on and stop using these titles. Nope. The faithful rejected the document because the truth is not always inappropriate. Lying is always inappropriate. Incompetence is always inappropriate. Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces and Co-Redemptix, pray for us!
How they continue to mishandle this precious matter.
Mary, our greatest Intercessor.
Mary let Him know that the wine was gone at the wedding but ultimately told the hosts to “do what He tells you.”
We are to pray to Jesus, our intercessory, per His words.
Would you not ask a friend for their prayer for your intentions? Surely the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God’s uniquely chosen vessel with her Son is not to be denied by any Christian. The elect enjoying eternal beatitude do not abandon us in their union with the Most Holy Trinity. They have become like Him as St. Paul tells us. The Blessed Mother of the Son of God most especially.
As they say on Jeopardy, I’m sorry.
Actually, in the one form of prayer the Lord specifically provided in response to a direct inquiry- as to WHO to pray to he said “Our Father”. You lose your wager.
Matthew 6:9-10, Luke 11:2-4.
Otherwise, he instructed on HOW to pray (urging humility, continually, frequently and perseveringly) and its fruitfulness, necessity and why and what to pray for.
This doesn’t even begin to address non-supplicative prayer or meditative prayer.
How’s your cancer vaccine coming since you left NBC?
First, Jesus is not an adjective. Second, when we pray to Jesus, we pray to God. He Himself needs no intercessor to Himself.
pray the rosary daily
Whether Co-Redemptrix or Mediatrix were intended to be “absolutely prohibited” or not, neither would not be absent from my speech or piety. The DDF sacrificed boldly and tragically its reliability with the appointment of the Argentinian Cardinal. He has no credence. Why would anyone rely on him, a trumpeter of the ecumenical zeitgeist than any number of saints?
Anyone in a position to make an improvement in Catholic culture, theology, piety had best be able to recognize that 2013-2025 was an epoch best consigned to the bucket of best forgotten — unless one is bent on how to undermine the Mystical Body of Christ.
Is Catholicism approaching a decision to declare that St Mary is the 4th Member of the Trinity?
No. But the Most Holy Trinity, God, is inviting us to share in His Divinity by His sharing in our humanity…most perfectly exhibited in the Virgin, Mary.
When in doubt, don’t.
Veni Sancte Spiritus. Veni per Mariam!
Like the 7th-century Mohammed, the 19th-century Charles de Foucauld had been orphaned at a very young age. As a young man, and unlike Mohammed, he converted to Christianity. This turning point was in a Paris confessional, rather than in a cave (at Mount Hira) as with Mohammed with his pre-Christian (not chronologically) version of a monolithic and non-relational monotheism.
However, of his missionary life among the Muslim Touaregs in Morocco, de Foucauld (1858-1916) is described: “through the faith of an entire people of Moslems, he had glimpsed something of the greatness of God” (in Rene Voillaume, Seeds of the Desert (Fides Publishers, Inc., 1964), The “greatness of God(!),” unlike much of the West today, but a God who also remains ever distant, totally inscrutable, fatalistic and arbitrary.
Unlike the self-disclosing Triune One who invites us to share his interior and divine life. The difference between mere “submission” and the freedom of Mary’s “fiat.” The Theotokos! Without Mary and human “freedom toward the truth,” instead the continued non-freedom of estrangement and Islamic submission. No “fiat,” no access to the LOGOS; without Theotokos, no Incarnation.
So, yes indeed, to the maternal co-Mediatrix—properly understood. And, yes to the two hearts united—and yet distinct and absolutely different—as depicted on the Miraculous Medal revealed to Catherine Laboure.
Cardinal Fernandez has always wanted to demystify the role of Jesus..why not Mary…without her Fiat, there would be no prophetic Redemption..
“It’s not an absolute prohibition, but it will no longer be used in official documents or the liturgy.” So how then will the up & coming generations come to LEARN the true meaning of Coredemptrist & Mediatrix? They won’t! And that is the plan. Where in the Bible is the word Trinity in describing The Father, The Son, The Holy Ghost (Spirit)? It is implied, but not spelled out; in other words it is a concept that must be TAUGHT. Because our One, Holy, Catholic (means universal) & Apostolic Church is referred to as Holy Mother Church—where is that term in Scripture? It isn’t. It must be taught. The Faith of Our Lord Jesus is so full, so ripe, so intense, there are concepts that must be taught. This most recent incident is just another in the long list of demoting Saints’ Feast Days, changing the Church calendar, doing away with Latin, etc. It is quite frankly, the “dumbing down” of Truth. Who do YOU say Jesus is?
Side note: To increase the devotion to our Blessed Mother, the Church should advocate the praying of the Angelus, three times daily, morning, noon and night. This prayer alone, IMHO, said with thought on its depth of meaning, will bring those who say it a deeper understanding of our Blessed Mother’s role in our salvation through Jesus Our Lord and Savior.
There is a disingenuous whiff about this whole affair, or is it just that Cardinal Fenandez – and Pope Leo – hadn’t really thought thought the implications of saying “always inappropriate”?
The position Mediatrix or intercessor is not right and unwanted. There is no mediater except Christ. Mary is not the source of all graces. As for saying the Rosay, it was hijacked by the Church from India, rosary was regularly used by the Buddhist monks and some monks of the Hindu faith centuries before Christ came into the world. On a fine morning sombody started spreading a false claim that Mary appeared to St Benedict and personally handed the rosary to him. If any faithful wants to say rosary, let him do it. Nobody to stop him. Faith and devotion are personal, we cannot try to stop the person.
“… rosary was regularly used by the Buddhist monks…”
So the Buddhist monks were praying to Mary and Christ? Fabulous. Truly. Ahem.
Prayer beads, of course, have been used in various religions and cultures for millennia. The essence of the Rosary, however (need it be said?), is not the use of beads.