"Mater Populi Fidelis"

Here are just a few initial thoughts on this document. I have said much of this before in other places, so this is nothing new. I take the same position as what I understand Pope Benedict XVI to have taken. Terms like "Co-Redemptrix" and "Co-Mediatrix" for the Blessed Virgin, are true in what they intend to communicate. They are also prone to misunderstanding and therefore a document that seeks to give balance and help us avoid doctrinal errors should be received with joy.

Christ alone is our Mediator and Redeemer. The Blessed Virgin cooperates with Him in both of these (and a host of other) roles that He takes on as our Savior. Of course, no faithful Catholic would deny that Mary cooperates in a way that no other human being ever has, or ever will. Yet, she is a mere human who was chosen for this task and lived faithful to it. If she had said "no", then God's plan would not have been thwarted (no mere human has that power, not even one born without original sin as Mary was). There is only one Jesus, and when we seek to honor the Blessed Virgin it is not honorable to confuse or co-mingle their roles in our salvation.