Two questions about Pilate’s end and whether the Virgin Mary was redeemed

Dear Father,

Thank you for all the answers you have given to the many people who turn to you.

They are all very interesting and are helping me in many ways.

My question is this: after our Lord Jesus died and thus only temporarily ended the struggle against the followers of the “Nazarene,” I wonder what happened to Pilate. I would be interested to know this and then the most important question: is Mary to be considered the only human being who was not redeemed at the time of the death of her Redeemer Son?

I greet you with sympathy and affection even though we do not know each other. I will pray for you.

Ildebrando

The priest’s reply

Dear Ildebrando,

1. I quote from the Life of Jesus written by the well-known biblical scholar Giuseppe Ricciotti what is reported about Pilate:

§ 27. In the end, Pilate was a victim of his own way of governing. In 35, a false prophet, who had gained great renown in Samaria, promised his followers that he would show them the sacred objects from the time of Moses, which were believed to be hidden on Mount Gerizim, near Samaria.

But on the appointed day, Pilate had soldiers occupy the top of the mountain: he wanted to prevent the gathering, not so much because he gave importance to the false prophet’s vain promise, but because he knew that the Samaritans were tired of the procurator’s oppression and suspected them of planning a revolt. Nevertheless, a large crowd gathered, and the soldiers attacked them. Many Samaritans were killed, many were taken prisoner, and the most prominent among them were later put to death by Pilate. The Samaritan community lodged a formal complaint against Pilate for this unreasonable massacre with Vitellius, who was the legate of Syria and had full powers in the East. The accusation was accepted with urgency, because the Samaritans were known for their loyalty to Rome, and Vitellius immediately dismissed Pilate and sent him to Rome to answer for his actions before the emperor. It was the end of the year 36.

When Pilate arrived in Rome, he found that Tiberius had died (March 16, 37). How the condemner of Jesus ended his life is not known to true history: it is known to legend, however, which attributed wonderful adventures to him in this world and the next, sometimes sending him to the depths of hell and sometimes to paradise as a true saint.

So far Ricciotti, who concludes by saying that some venerate him as a saint. And this is true, especially for the Coptic Church, which venerates him as such together with his wife Claudia Procula.

2. The second question you ask contains a serious error. It assumes that Our Lady was the only creature who was not redeemed. However, Our Lady was also redeemed, as the Magisterium of the Church clearly states.

Pius XII, in Fulgens corona, published on the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1954), says: “If we consider the matter thoroughly and diligently, it is easy to see how Christ the Lord truly redeemed his divine Mother in a more perfect way, since she was preserved by God from any hereditary stain of sin, in anticipation of his merits. Therefore, the infinite dignity of Jesus Christ and the universality of his Redemption are not diminished or lessened by this point of doctrine, but rather increased to the highest degree.”

Vatican II also expresses this line of thought: “Redeemed in a sublime way in view of the merits of her Son” (Lumen gentium 53); “The Holy Church… admires and exalts in Mary the most excellent fruit of the Redemption” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 103).

Paul VI, in the Creed of the People of God, will say: “We believe that Mary is the Mother, who remained ever virgin, of the Incarnate Word, our God and Savior Jesus Christ, and that, because of this unique election, she, in view of the merits of her Son, was redeemed in a more eminent way, preserved from every stain of original sin and filled with the gift of grace more than all other creatures.”

Thank you for your questions. I will keep you in my prayers and bless you.

Father Angelo

Questo articolo è disponibile anche in: