Redemptoris Mater by Cardinal Ratzinger

(Purpose is to indicate the scope and orientation of the Marian year - 1987)
 To interpret the signs of the time in the light of faith and thus to offer directives for the journey of the
Church and of humanity.

Structure
1. Mary in the mystery of Christ (reading of Sacred Scripture in its totality and its unity)
 Genesis 3 and Revelation 12 (Sign of Woman who reconciles heaven and earth).
 Protoevangelium: the very moment of sin sees also the beginning of Gospel.
 The blessing is stronger than curse. “The sign of the Woman is sign of hope. She
indicates the path of hope. She is the essential sign of the time.”
 By this sign, we proceed in the footsteps of hope towards Christ.
2. Mary’s maternal mediation (‘Mediatrix’ LG 62)
 Christ’s mediation is unique. But this uniqueness is not exclusive but inclusive and
participatory (all can be in multiple ways one for another, mediators with God in
communion in Jesus Christ)
 Mary’s mediation is participated mediation. It is a subordinate role in the nature of
intercessions (E.g., extraordinary mediation at Cana)
 Maternal intercession: it guards feminine dimension in Church’s present activity
o Motherhood which can and must continue
o Motherhood which makes Christ to be ever born anew. Concerns the hearing,
guarding and the observance of the word of Jesus.
 Mary is mother with her whole person and therefore she remains such still. (My mother
and brothers are those who hear the word of god and do it. Luke 8:21)
3. Mary’s place in the Church’s pilgrim journey (ecumenical dimension)
 Church’s birth by the action of the Holy Spirit
 Jesus was born by the power of the Holy Spirit through Mary; Similarly Church was born
by the power of the Holy Spirit while Mary was amidst the community on the day of
Pentecost, here Mary becomes the connecting factor.
 Mary’s special role in the Church
 A new motherhood of Mary: Mary is given to all mankind as a mother at the foot of the
cross.
 Mary’s motherhood is a Christ’s gift to every individual
 Mary is the new eve who carries on in heaven her maternal role
 This icon of Pentecost is the icon of our identity and therefore our true hope
 Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven refers back to the great sign of hope

 The crucial point of Marian year is falling of man into sin and rising into life. The challenge for each
one of us is to follow the path of not falling but to learn from Mary what this path is.