The motherhood of the Church in light of its sacramental nature. Moving beyond the category of instrument?

Following the Council, the notion of the Church as a “sacrament of salvation” struggled to be accepted. Several factors explain this reservation, notably the reflections on salvation within the framework of ecumenical dialogues. Although Protestant theologians recognize the Church as a sign, they often stumble over the ambiguity of the notion of instrument, particularly regarding the nature of instrumentality. The article highlights the fact that the conciliar text paves the way for various interpretations. Two Catholic theologians, B. Sesboue and J.-M. Tillard, illustrate this diversity of approach: the former strives to maintain total transparency, while the latter understands the nature of instrumentality in a maximalist sense. In light of the difficulty in clarifying the nature of the Church’s instrumentality, the contribution proposes to explore how Marian cooperation offers a key to interpretation that could help overcome a certain impasse. Ultimately, the article questions the category of instrumentality to shed light on the role of mediations in God’s salvific design, a design that leads to the generation of filial life.