It was amazing to read that the Roman Catholic Church has done something that some Marian devotees regard as a “demotion” of Mary, the mother of Jesus, from her exalted status as “Co-Redemptrix”.
On November 4, 2025, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published a doctrinal note approved by incumbent Pope Leo XIV. The document clearly and firmly states that the Marian title of “Co-Redemptrix” or “Co-Redeemer” is not to be used because it “carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ” in salvation. The same applies to the title of “Co-Mediatrix” (mediator) because it undermines Christ’s one and only mediation. The explanation is that if a title requires constant qualification, explanation and clarification to prevent misunderstanding, then it is better to abandon it, for the sake of the faithful. This document has authoritative weight in the teaching of the Catholic Church.
This aroused my curiosity, and I wondered where this doctrine originated. I found out that none of the Popes clothed it with the robes of infallible teaching! It grew out of usage in devotional and theological literature since AD 180, when church father Irenaeus mentioned that Mary’s “Yes” to God made her a cause of salvation for herself and the human race. It evolved and took a life of its own over the centuries, with some Popes using the title in their documents, but the title was never formalised as a dogma.
The debate within the Vatican to reject this title had been going on for some time. Pope Benedict XVI, when he was a Cardinal, objected to making the title of Co-Redemptrix into dogma. He feared that terms like “Co-Redemptrix” would obscure Mary’s dependence on Christ: “everything comes from him … Mary …is everything that she is through him…The word “Co-Redemptrix” could obscure this origin.” Pope Francis was more explicit in his opposition. Mary “never presented herself as a co-Saviour… There is only one Redeemer”, he said on several occasions.
Some terms we evangelicals should bin
This made me ask: What about us from the Protestant/Evangelical tradition? Do we have similar terms that create confusion and require constant clarification, and should best be abandoned? Let me suggest a few.
“ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED”: This has been reduced to pray the sinner’s prayer and your sins are all forgiven, and you are heaven-bound regardless of how you live out your newfound faith. This term creates misunderstanding and gives a false assurance, even replacing perseverance with presumption. I say, stop using this phrase.
“GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES”: Not found in the Bible, not in words nor in concept. The opposite is true: God helps and saves those who are helpless and dependent (Romans 5:6-8). The gospel is available by grace through faith, never by self-reliance.
“GOD’S WILL IS FOR EVERYONE TO BE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY”: While God’s love logically means that God wants everything to go well with his children, including health and sustenance, we live in an imperfect world, and the teachings of Jesus, the examples of the apostles and the saints in the book of Acts and the epistles shows that trials, periods of lack, and suffering were not absent from believers’ lives. It is better to focus on verses like– “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33), and “Godliness and contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). Better to say, God wants to bless and heal us but he also allows trials in our lives to purify our faith (1 Peter 1:6,7).
“THE RAPTURE”: This term should be rethought, simply because it requires too much clarification, explanation and qualification to be understood. Use the term Second Coming of Christ, Return of Christ.
Can you suggest any term that should be binned? Do share with us in the comment box.
If you find this content helpful, follow me in my new WhatsApp channel: BLOGPASTOR or my Telegram channel: t.me/blogpastor. It will keep you informed of my latest post. Thank you for your support.