Asherz said:
I must ask about Mary and this co-redemtrix status I keep hearing about. What are your opinions, how does this work, and how does this not put Mary on a level with Christ?
The title is in honor of Mary's unique role in redemption. Mary said yes to the Angel. She plays a role in redemption that no one else plays.
It is not a role that is more important than Christ. It is not a role euqal with Christ. But the yes of Mary (and she could have said no.) through her own free will and choice was the answer that all creation waited for since the fall. The title honors the importance of that yes and calls us to say yes to God as well.
Not in a effort to be the equal of God. But as Mary did, in total love and acceptance of God's will.
Now the title "Co" is not to mean equal. It means with. It comes from the Latin "Cum" The direct and meaning is with. There is no indication of of equality or intention of equality in the title.
Think of it as a co-worker. The head of a work group is in charge. But others in the group are co-workers. They are not equal in authority but have the role to play that the boss wants.
In redemption there is the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But there is also the yes of Mary. She is the Human, who with a free choice
opens the door for the glory that is Christ.
Could God have redeemed us without this? Yes. He could have and still can do anything. But this is the way He wanted it. And Mary was the human whose free choice
Cooperated with redemption in a unique way that no one else did.
There is a bit more to the theology, but that is the basics of why it is not a title of equality with Christ.
A couple thing I thought to add. It has been asked in reference to this title, "Then why are the Apostles not Coredeemers, or the martyrs?"
The answer is that because they carry out work resulting from the redemption, they do not have an effect on the act of redemption.
With that answer it is usually asked, "Then why are judas, Pilate and Ciaphas not co. Since their acts led to the cross that is redemption."
The answer to that is that a sin (different ones for each of them) can not by the logic of what redemption is be helpers to it since they are the reason for it's necessity. If anything, the acts of the above men are a deeper indication of why redemption is necessary. And their rejection of God's plan a stark contrast to Mary's acceptance.
I thought I'd add the asnwers to those questions because they are often asked.
All Marian devotions, titles and anytihng serve only to glorify Christ. When they do no do that, something is wrong with the understanding or execution of the practice. Even the yes of Mary. That wonderful excercise of free will is a foreshadow the greater exercise of it by Christ in in the Agony in the Garden when Christ accepts His Fathers will.
Sometimes Catholics misunderstand the Marian devotions. Sometimes Protestants misunderstand them. But the basic fact is that if a devotion does not give greater glory to Christ it is not a devotion to Mary. Because Mary's life by her own words is devoted to that:
My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Luke 1:46-47
Going to see if I can find it again. 
