What's The Catholic Teaching On Co-Redeeming?

[cooterhein]

I'm not Catholic, but I talk about Catholicism with Catholics on message boards sometimes. In one recent conversation, I offered the statement that "God saves me." A Catholic interjected by saying this is true, but Mary also saves me, and so does faith and good works, and so does the Church, and so does the Communion of Saints. In some sense, I suppose this is largely true of Catholic teaching.

The next part got me wondering, though. This individual went on to say "We are all co-redemptors in our union with the One Body of Christ." I was wondering if all Catholics believe this, or if it's just some of them.

It's worth noting that this came from a Catholic and was directed at a Protestant (me), and the topic of conversation generally had to do with Mary. I think the goal may have been to present the idea of co-redeeming in such a way that Mary as Co-Redemptrix would seem more palatable. After all, aren't we all co-redemptors in our union with the One Body of Christ?

Well, I guess that's my question. Are we all co-redemptors in our union with the One Body of Christ? If so, in what sense, and how does it compare to the idea of Mary as Co-Redemptrix?

Edited September 26, 2011 by cooterhein

[Theoketos]

In a sense we are all co-redeemers when we cooperate with the amesome and omnipotent grace of God. Mary is so in a special way because of her unique position as Mother of God and first Christian.