Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
With the approval of Pope Leo XIV, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has published a Doctrinal Note entitled Mother of the Faithful People (Mater Populi fidelis), declaring that it is not theologically appropriate to address Blessed Virgin Mary as ‘coredemptrix’, and titles such as “Mother of Graces” and “Mediatrix” must be used prudently. You would have noticed some misleading discussions and interpretations happening on social media, suggesting that this represents a step back from the honour previously given by the Catholic Church to Mary or as an acceptance of Protestant ideas.
We should keep in mind that the Church’s fundamental teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary remain unchanged. The Church officially proclaimed four dogmas about Mary: she is the Mother of God, evervirgin, immaculate, and her assumption into heaven. The Church continues to proclaim these four doctrinal truths without alteration. At the same time, the Doctrinal Note aims to correct theological misunderstandings that have arisen from certain terms used to describe Mother Mary. By giving birth to the incarnated Son of God, she becomes our mother too. The heart of this document is a call to remain with her spiritual motherhood.
Together with this, the Note directs us to avoid certain titles that can cause confusion. The most important instruction is to refrain from using the term ‘coredemptrix’. It is not right to interpret this as a new direction. The Church has never declared and taught officially that Mary is coredemptrix. It is true that some Marian devotees have used the title out of their love for the Holy Mother. The Note points out that the term can lead to certain theological errors. Saying “Mary is a coredemptrix” might suggest that Christ’s salvific work is incomplete without her assistance. Or, it may lead to the misunderstanding that salvation is possible only through a joint effort of Jesus and Mary. Such ideas would diminish the unique and supreme role of Christ in humanity’s salvation; therefore, the document recommends avoiding this expression. The new document does not deny Mary’s essential role in God’s plan of salvation. She freely gave herself to the divine will and willingly prepared to become the mother of Jesus. The document makes a clear distinction between Mary’s cooperation in the work of salvation and what is implied in the title ‘co-redemptrix’. The dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is that she collaborated freely in the plan of salvation through her faith and obedience.
Likewise, the Note points out that when Mary is called ‘Mother of Graces’, this can give the impression that all graces originate from her. The source of all graces is God alone. It is through the sacraments in the Church that the Son of God bestows every grace. To preserve the integrity of this mystery, the document advises avoiding the phrase ‘Mother of Graces’.
The usage of the title mediatrix also requires careful consideration. There is no doubt that Mary intercedes for us before God. It is quite different to say that ‘Mary can intercede for us’ and that she is mediatrix, and this theological difference is clarified by this Note. Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity. The Church teaches that Mary’s intercession should not be presented as equal to Christ’s unique mediatorship. The document underlined the fact that Christ alone is the ‘One and the only mediator’ between God and humanity, because he is both fully divine and fully human. The phrase ‘Jesus, the unique mediator’ means that no one else can stand in the middle between God and humanity, but Jesus alone. Without this clarification, referring to Mary simply as mediatrix, leads to misunderstandings. In short, the document’s purpose is to emphasize the unparalleled uniqueness of Christ’s mediatorship, while preserving the Church’s traditional devotion to Mary and giving it the correct direction.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is worthy of the highest honour in the Church (hyperdulia). She had the faith and courage to follow Christ even to the foot of the Cross. Before his death, Jesus gave her to all believers as their mother (John 19:27). As the Mother and symbol of the Church, Mary’s life is a model and inspiration for all the faithful. If she were received into heaven with her body, then the whole Church that imitates her is likewise entitled to enter heaven. Devotion to the Blessed Mother expressed through the rosary, novenas, scapular devotion, and other prayers remains in the Catholic Church without any change. I invite everybody to be vigilant against the vested interests and the false teachings of those who misinterpret this document, which defines with clarity the role of Jesus and the Blessed Mother Mary in the plan of salvation.
May God bless you abundantly through the intercession of Mother Mary!
Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil
(Given from the Major Archiepiscopal Curia at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad,on the 8th day of November, in the year of our Lord 2025.)
