Co­-redemption as the Essence of the Mariology of Pavol M. Hnilica as Inspired by the Messages of Fatima

Abstract

The life of Bishop Hnilica - a Jesuit, a secretly consecrated bishop who ordained an important figure of the underground Church J. Ch. Korec - who became a legend mainly because he initiated works of evangelization and solidarity, especially with the Church under the oppression of the Communist regime - was existentially connected with the event and messages of the apparitions in Fatima. This study aims to describe the basic pillars of his mariology, internally connected with soteriology, on the basis of archival materials (sermons, lectures, speeches). There will be a focus on his preferred term "co-redemption". An analysis of his thinking leads to the conclusion that the concept of co-redemption - according to Bishop Hnilica the prophetic core of Fatima - does not go beyond Catholic orthodoxy, but is an impetus for an updated interpretation of St. Paul's idea of Christian complementation by his own suffering of what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the Church (cf. Col 1:24). In this way, his theology of proclamation can be seen as an inspiring contribution to the mariological discussion of Mary's participation in the work of redemption.