Fr. William Most
Father Most presents an excellent guide for the laity in understanding the teaching of Our Lady as Co-Redemptrix. In his 1954 book, Mary in Our Life, he distinguishes our subjective Redemption (i.e., the working out of an individual’s salvation) from the objective Redemption merited by Jesus Christ at Calvary on behalf of mankind. Fr. Most explains Our Lady’s role in that Sacrifice on Calvary by which we were objectively redeemed.
Simply put, Mary’s role is certainly dependent upon and subordinate to the unique role of Jesus Christ, but Her cooperation in His act of Redemption is truly singular and of a different nature than that of any other saint or angel. This title in no way diminishes or competes with Christ’s work of Redemption. It does not mean She is equal to Christ or that She could have wrought redemption, or any part thereof, without Him. It does mean God divinely willed to have Mary share a privileged, unique, and necessary role in all of mankind’s Redemption. Jesus Christ and Mary have a supernatural union established in an eternal decree by God. Moreover, as Eve was condemned to share in the curse of Adam, so Mary is even more privileged to partake of the Passion of Christ. Our Catholic faith affirms what eludes human reason, namely Mary’s sufferings, like Her Son’s, are ongoing – until the end of time! Hence, for all these reasons and more, it is fitting for us to imitate countless saints and Popes in asserting that Mary is the Co-Redemptrix.