When the Church tells you that Mary offered Jesus on the cross, and the Bible teaches that Jesus offered Himself, in whom do you put your trust?

by Keith Abell, RPh MI
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

#8 in the “In Whom Do You Put Your Trust?” Series

Welcome back, friends! This is #8 in our 18-part series on the question, “In whom do you put your trust?” If you’ve been following along, you know this series was born out of a very real challenge to my faith. A fundamentalist friend confronted me with questions that shook me—questions I had never really thought about because, like many cradle Catholics, I simply accepted what I was taught.

“When the Church tells you that Mary offered Jesus on the cross, and the Bible teaches that Jesus offered Himself, in whom do you put your trust?”

At first glance, it sounds like a contradiction. If the Bible says Jesus offered Himself, and someone claims the Church says Mary offered Him, then surely one must be wrong—right? But here’s the truth: the Church does not teach that Mary offered Jesus on the cross in the same sense that Jesus offered Himself. Let’s unpack that.

What the Church Actually Teaches

The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest, freely offered Himself for our salvation (Hebrews 9:14). His sacrifice is unique, perfect, and sufficient. No one else—Mary included—shares in that priestly act.

So where does Mary come in? The Church recognizes Mary’s cooperation in God’s plan. From the moment she said “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), Mary gave her full consent to God’s will. At Calvary, she stood at the foot of the cross (John 19:25), not protesting, not trying to stop what was happening, but uniting her maternal heart to the suffering of her Son.

Did she “offer” Jesus? Not in the sacrificial sense. Rather, as a mother, she surrendered her Son back to the Father in faith and obedience. That’s a profound act of trust, but it is not the same as Christ’s priestly offering.

What Did the Early Church Say?

This isn’t a modern invention. The early Church Fathers spoke of Mary’s role with deep reverence—but always subordinate to Christ.

• St. Irenaeus called Mary the “New Eve,” whose obedience helped undo the knot of Eve’s disobedience.
• St. Ambrose and St. Augustine praised Mary’s faith at the cross, highlighting her interior consent and unwavering trust. Augustine famously said Mary “conceived Christ in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb.”
• The Council of Ephesus affirmed Mary as Theotokos—Mother of God—underscoring her unique place in salvation history, but never claiming she performed the sacrificial act.

From the earliest centuries, Christians saw Mary as the perfect disciple, the one who stood firm when others fled. Her role was maternal and spiritual, not priestly.

So, In Whom Do We Put Our Trust?

We put our trust in God—in His Word and in the Church He established to safeguard that Word. There is no contradiction here. Jesus offered Himself. Mary cooperated fully with God’s plan, surrendering her Son in faith. Her silent strength at Calvary is not a rival to Christ’s sacrifice but a witness to what it means to trust God completely.

Prayer Reflection

Mary, Mother of Sorrows, at the foot of the cross you said “yes” again to God’s plan, even when your heart was pierced with grief. Teach us to trust as you trusted, to surrender as you surrendered, and to love as you loved. Help us unite our sufferings to Christ’s, so that we too may say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

Amen.

If this reflection helped you, please like, share, and subscribe so others can join us on this journey.

And stay tuned for Question 9 in our series—because these conversations matter, and together we can deepen our understanding of the faith we profess.