Mariology of the Catholic Church

The Blessed Virgin Mary in a rose-garden with angels playing music. Roses were the symbol of Mary

Mariology of the Catholic Church is the systematic study of the person of Mary, mother of Jesus, and of her place in the economy of salvation, within Catholic theology.[1][2][3]

Mary is seen as having a singular dignity above the saints. The Catholic Church teaches that she was conceived without original sin therefore receiving a higher level of veneration than all other saints. Roman Catholic Mariology thus studies not only her life but also the veneration of her in daily life, prayer, hymns, art, music, and architecture in modern and ancient Christianity throughout the ages.[4][5][6][7]

The four dogmas of perpetual virginity, Mother of God, Immaculate Conception and Assumption form the basis of Mariology. However, a number of other Catholic doctrines about the Virgin Mary have been developed by reference to sacred scripture, theological reasoning and Church tradition. The development of Mariology is ongoing and since the beginnings it has continued to be shaped by theological analyses, writings of saints, and papal statements, e.g. while two Marian dogmas are ancient, the other two were defined in the 19th and 20th centuries; and papal teachings on Mary have continued to appear in recent times.[8][9][10]

In parallel to the traditional views, since the late 19th century, a number of other perspectives have been presented as a challenge to Roman Catholic Mariology. These have ranged from feminist criticisms that consider the image of Mary a construct of the patriarchal mindset which limits equal opportunity for women, to other Christian views that see Mariology as unbiblical and a denial of the uniqueness of Christ as redeemer and mediator[11] to modern psychological interpretations of Mary as the equivalent of mythical Goddesses ranging from Diana to Kwan Yin.[12][13][14] Many different notions similar to these have been addressed in the 1988 John Paul II Apostolic Letter "on the Dignity and Vocation of Women," (Mulieris Dignitatem), for the occasion of the Marian Year. John Paul II also defines the feminine genius in this writing as well, referencing the life of the Mother of God.

Study of Mary and her place in the Church

Context and components

The study of Mary and her place in the Catholic Church has been undertaken from a number of perspectives and within a number of contexts, and in his address to the 2012 Mariological congress, Pope Benedict XVI stated that this study must be "understood and deeply examined from different and complementary viewpoints".[15] Pope Benedict XVI has also emphasized that the study of Mary can not be performed in isolation from other disciplines and that Mariology is inherently related to the study of Christ and of the Church, and expresses the inner coherence of these disciplines.[16]

Pope Benedict XVI has stated that Marian studies have three separate characteristics: first personalizing the Church so it is not seen just as a structure but as a person, secondly the incarnational aspect and the relation to God, and third Marian piety which involves the heart and the emotional component.[17]

Mary's position in Church can be compared to the aspect of the Petrine office in a dual sense.[18] This perspective on the duality of the roles of Mary and Peter highlights the subjective holiness of the heart and the holiness of the structure of the Church. In this duality the Petrine office logically examines the charisms for their theological soundness, while the Marian dual provides a balance in the spiritual and emotional sense via the service of love that the office can never encompass. Mariology and the doctrine of office are thus not "side chapels" in Roman Catholic teachings, but are central and integrating elements of it.[19] As referenced in the encyclical on the Mystical Body of Christ, Pius XII, 1943, her fiat gave consent for a spiritual marriage between the Son of God and human nature, thus giving humanity the means to salvation. Mary's rights (wedding feast at Cana), and Mary's love (fiat) are essential to salvation.

Maximalism and minimalism

Mariology is a field in which deeply felt pious beliefs of the faithful and hagiography may conflict with theological and critical historical reviews of beliefs and practices.[20] This conflict was recognized as early as the year 1300 by William of Ware who described the tendency of some believers to attribute almost everything to Mary.[21] Bonaventura warned against Marian maximalism. "One has to be careful as to not to minimize the honour of our Lord, Jesus Christ."[22] Both minimalist and maximalist have always seen in Mary a sign of the Church and viewed her as a model for all Catholics.[23]

In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII, "the most Marian Pope in Church history”[24] warned against both exuberant exaggerations and timid minimalism in the presentation of Mary.[25][26] The Vatican II dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium was specifically written in 1964 to avoid both Marian maximalism and minimalism.[27][28] Pope John Paul II was also careful to avoid both maximalism and minimalism in his Mariology and avoided taking personal positions on issues which were subject to theological debate.[29]

Mariology and Christology

A Christ and Mary, mosaic, Chora Church, 12-14th century. "To Christ through Mary", taught by St. Louis de Montfort

Mariology (the study of Mary) has been related to Christology (the study of Christ) and in the Roman Catholic theological and papal writings has been viewed as interwoven with the mystery of Christ.[30] Pope John Paul II discussed the "precise place of Mary" in the plan of salvation in the encyclical Redemptoris Mater and stated: "Following the line of the Second Vatican Council, I wish to emphasize the special presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and his Church. For this is a fundamental dimension emerging from the Mariology of the Council".[31]

Roman Catholic theologians have also explored the interwoven natures of Mariology and Christology.[30] Pope Benedict XVI characterized the relationship by stating that "Christology and Mariology are inseparably interwoven" from their very beginnings.[32] In his view Mariology underscores the nexus of the mysteries of Christology and ecclesiology, and reflects they are intrinsically interwoven.[33]

Early Christians and numerous saints focused on this connection[34] and popes highlighted the inner link between Marian doctrines and a fuller understanding of Christological themes.[35] Given the Catholic perspective that the Church lives in its relation to Christ, being the Body of Christ, it also has a relation to his mother, whose study is the subject of Roman Catholic Mariology.[36] Pope Saint Pius X in Ad diem illum stated: "there is no more direct road than by Mary for uniting all mankind in Christ."[37]

In Roman Catholic theology the study of Mary, while contributing to the study of Christ, is also a separate discipline in its own right, with an understanding of the figure of Mary contributing to a fuller understanding of who Christ is and what he did.[38] The Congregation for Catholic Education has characterized the situation as follows: "The history of theology shows that an understanding of the mystery of the Virgin contributes to a more profound understanding of the mystery of Christ, of the Church and of the vocation of man."[39] Referring to this, Cardinal Raymond Burke stated that the promotion of a fuller knowledge of the Virgin Mary is the "constant work of the Church".[40]

History and development

Santa Maria Antiqua, in the Forum Romanum, 5th century, seat of Pope John VII.

Early Christians focused their piety at first more upon the martyrs; but following that, they saw in Mary a bridge between the old and the new.[41] The earliest recorded prayer to Mary, the sub tuum praesidium, is dated to around the year 250.[42]

In Egypt the veneration of Mary had started in the 3rd century and the term Theotokos was used by Church Father Origen.[43]

The Renaissance period witnessed a dramatic growth in Marian art.[44] Masterpieces by Boticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael were produced in this period. In the 16th century, the Council of Trent confirmed the Catholic tradition of paintings and artworks in churches, resulting in a great development of Marian art and Mariology during the Baroque Period.[7] During the Reformation, the Catholic Church defended its Mariology against Protestant views. With the victory at Battle of Lepanto (1571) accredited to her, it "signified the beginning of a strong resurgence of Marian devotions."[45] The baroque literature on Mary experienced unforeseen growth. More than 500 pages of Mariological writings were published during the 17th century alone.[46]

Popes have fostered the veneration of the Blessed Virgin through the promotion of Marian devotions, feast days, prayers, initiatives, the acceptance and support of Marian congregations, and, the formal recognition of Marian apparitions such as in Lourdes and Fátima. Popes have at times followed on paths initiated by previous popes, for instance popes Alexander VII and Clement X both promulgated the veneration of the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary, a concept which was embraced by pope John Paul II in the 20th century as the Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.[47][48][49][50]

The two Marian dogmas of Immaculate Conception and Assumption were established by popes in the 19th and 20th century. Pope Pius XII issued the Dogma of the Assumption and the Second Vatican Council declared Mary to be the Mother of the Church.[51] In his 2002 Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II emphasized Saint Louis de Montfort's approach of viewing the study of Mary as a path to gaining a better understanding of the mystery of Christ.[52]

Dogmatic teachings

Main article: Roman Catholic dogma

Marian Roman Catholic dogmas present infallible Church teachings about Mary and her relation to Jesus Christ, and reflect the role of Mary in the economy of salvation.[53][54]

De Fide Definita or De Fide Credenda doctrines have the highest degree of dogmatic certainty. These doctrines come in several forms, namely the sacred scriptures and apostolic tradition[55] and teachings which have been specifically defined as revealed by an extraordinary definition by a Pope or Ecumenical council (extraordinary universal Magisterium), or those teachings infallibly taught to be revealed by the ordinary universal Magisterium. As in the case of the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption, these doctrines were held by the Church prior to the date of official definition, but open for discussion. The date of definition must be accepted by all faithful members of the Catholic Church as contained specifically in the Deposit of Faith and owed supernatural faith in itself (de fide credenda).[53][54][56]

There are four Marian dogmas specifically defined by the Magisterium among a large number of other dogmas and doctrines about the Virgin Mary - for example, the Annunciation of Mary is dogma because it is in the scriptures, but it has not been specifically defined by the Magisterium. These four Marian dogmas include:[56]

Name First Magisterial Definition Dogma content
Mother of God Council of Ephesus (431) Mother of God, not that the nature of the Word or his divinity received the beginning of its existence from the holy Virgin, but that, since the holy body, animated by a rational soul, which the Word of God united to himself according to the hypostasis, was born from her, the Word is said to be born according to the flesh.
Assumption into heaven Pope Pius XII (1950) Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory
Immaculate Conception Pope Pius IX (1854) Mary, at her conception, was preserved immaculate from Original Sin
Perpetual virginity Baptismal symbols since the 3rd century 'Perpetual virginity of Mary', means that Mary was a virgin before, during and after giving birth

Although there are only four Marian dogmas, popular support for a "fifth Marian dogma" which establishes Mary as Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix appeared in the 20th century both from lay groups and the clergy.[56] According to L'Osservatore Romano, in 1996 the Holy See formed a commission to seek the opinion of scholars regarding the possibility and the opportuneness of establishing a fifth Marian dogma on Mary as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate.[57] A lay movement called Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici is promoting the doctrine of Mary as Mediatrix and provides petitions that can be signed by Roman Catholics at large and sent to the Pope in support of a formal dogmatic definition.[58][59][60]

Mother of God

Madonna and Child from Saint Catherine's Monastery, c. 600.

Mary's mothership of God is a dogma of the Catholic Church.[61] The term "Mother of God" appears within the oldest known prayer to Mary, the Sub tuum praesidium, which dates to around 250 AD: "Under thy protection we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God". This was the first specifically Marian doctrine to be formally defined by the Church, formally affirmed at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. This refuted the objection raised by Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople.[62]

Scriptural basis for the dogma is found in John 1:14 which states "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" and in Galatians 4:4 which states "God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law".[63] Luke 1:35 further affirms divine maternity by stating: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee ... wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God."[64]

The dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium at the Second Vatican Council affirmed Mary as the Mother of God. "The Virgin Mary, who at the message of the angel received the Word of God in her heart and in her body and gave Life to the world, is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer." [65]

This dogma is inherently related to the Christological dogma of the hypostatic union which relates the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ.[61] The Catechism teaches that "Mary is truly 'Mother of God' since she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself."[66] According to Saunders, Mary did not create the divine person of Jesus, who existed with the Father from all eternity.[62]

Assumption of Mary

The Assumption of Mary by Charles Le Brun, 1835.

This dogma states that Mary was assumed into heaven with body and soul (de fide). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 966) states:

"the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things."[67]

Pope Pius XII discussed the Assumption in Deiparae Virginis Mariae (1946) and in declared it a dogma in Munificentissimus Deus (1950).[68][69][70]

Although the Assumption was only recently defined as dogma, accounts of the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven have circulated since at least the 5th century and by the 8th century saints Andrew of Crete and John of Damascus had declared belief in it.[71][72] The Book of Revelation (12:1) has been interpreted as referring to it; with her coronation implying her previous bodily assumption to heaven.[68]

Before declaring the Assumption a dogma in Munificentissimus Deus in 1950, in the encyclical Deiparae Virginis Mariae "" (1946) Pope Pius XII obtained the opinion of Catholic bishops, and based on their overwhelming support (1210 among the 1232 bishops) proceeded with the dogmatic definition.[68][73] Since the 1870 solemn declaration of Papal Infallibility by Vatican I in 1870, this declaration by Pius XII has been the only ex cathedra use of Papal Infallibility. While Pope Pius XII deliberately left open the question of whether Mary died before her Assumption, the more common teaching of the early Fathers is that she did.[74][75]

When responding to Pope Pius XII following the circulation of Deiparae Virginis Mariae a large number of Catholic bishops pointed the Book of Genesis (3:15) as a scriptural basis.[71] In Munificentissimus Deus (item 39) Pius XII referred to the "struggle against the infernal foe" as in Genesis 3:15 and to "complete victory over the sin and death" as in the Letters of Paul as a scriptural basis for the dogmatic definition, Mary being assumed to heaven as in 1 Corinthians 15:54: "then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory".[71][76][77]

Immaculate Conception of Mary

Main article: Immaculate Conception
Altar of the Immaculata by Joseph Lusenberg, 1876. Saint Antony's Church, Urtijëi, Italy.

This dogma states that Mary was conceived without original sin (de fide). This means that the conception of Mary in her mother's womb was without any stain of original sin and from the first moment of her existence, she was preserved by God from the lack of sanctifying grace that afflicts mankind, and that she was instead filled with divine grace.[78]

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is distinct from and should not be confused with the perpetual virginity of Mary or the virgin birth of Jesus; for this dogma refers to the conception of Mary by her mother, Saint Anne and not the conception of Jesus.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, was established in 1476 by Pope Sixtus IV, but the dogmatic definition was performed by Pope Pius IX in his constitution Ineffabilis Deus, on December 8, 1854.[78][79] The dogmatic definition in Ineffabilis Deus (which is Latin for "Ineffable God"), was made ex cathedra by the exercise of papal authority by Pope Pius IX.[80]

The dogma states that Mary possessed sanctifying grace from the first instant of her existence and by a special and unique gift of God was free from the lack of grace caused by the original sin at the beginning of human history.[81] In Fulgens corona (item 10) Pope Pius XII reaffirmed the concept by stating: "Who will dare to doubt that she, who was purer than the angels and at all times pure, was at any moment, even for the briefest instant, not free from every stain of sin?"[82]

Ineffabilis Deus (as well as Pope Pius XII's Munificentissimus Deus on the Assumption) also teaches the predestination of Mary, in that she was preserved from sin due to the role reserved for her in the economy of salvation.[79] This predetermination of Mary's role in salvation was referred to in Lumen gentium (item 61) which stated that she was "Predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God."[79] [83] The definition in Ineffabilis Deus confirms the uniqueness of the Immaculate Conception as a gift from God to Mary to allow her to become the stainless Mother of God.[78]

Perpetual virginity of Mary

The Annunciation by Paolo de Matteis, 1712.

This dogma states that Mary was a virgin before, during and after giving birth (de fide). This oldest Marian doctrine, (also held by Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox, and many other Christians) affirms Mary's "real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made Man."[84] Thus, by the teaching of this dogma, the faithful believe that Mary was ever-Virgin (Greek ἀειπάρθενος) for the whole of her life, making Jesus her only biological son, whose conception and birth are held to be miraculous.[85][86]

The doctrine of perpetual virginity is distinct from the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, which relates to the conception of the Virgin Mary herself without any stain (macula in Latin) of original sin.[87]

Virginity before birth

This means that Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit without participation of any man (de fide). The Greek term Aeiparthenos (i.e. "Ever Virgin") is attested to from the early 4th century.[88] The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 499) includes the term Aeiparthenos and referring to the dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium (item 57) states: "Christ's birth did not diminish his mother's virginal integrity but sanctified it."[89][90][91]

Virginity during birth

This means that Mary gave birth without losing her corporal virginity (de fide) and her corporal integrity was not affected by giving birth.[90] The Church does not teach how this occurred physically, but insists that virginity during child birth is different from virginity of conception; Pope Pius XII stating in Mystici corporis "Within her virginal womb Christ our Lord already bore the exalted title of Head of the Church; in a marvelous birth she brought Him forth as the source of all supernatural life".[90][92]

Virginity after birth

This means that Mary remained a virgin after giving birth (de fide).[90] This belief of the Church was questioned in its early years.[93] The scriptures say little about this, mentioning the brothers of Jesus, but never "sons of Mary," suggesting to the patristical writers a broader family relationship.[90][93][94]

Other Marian doctrines

Apart from the four Marian dogmas listed above, the Catholic Church holds a number of other doctrines about the Virgin Mary which have been developed by references to Sacred Scripture, theological reasoning and Church tradition.[95]

Mary as Mother of all Christians

Main article: Mother of the Church
Federico Barocci, Madonna del Popolo (Madonna of the people) 1579.

The title Mother of the Church (in Latin Mater Ecclesiae) was officially given to the Virgin Mary during the Second Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI.[96] This title goes back to St. Ambrose of Milan in the 4th century, but this use was not known until its 1944 rediscovery by Hugo Rahner.[96][97] Rahner's Mariology, following Ambrose, saw Mary in her role within the Church, his interpretation being based solely on Ambrose and the early Fathers.[97]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Virgin Mary is mother of the Church and of all its members, namely all Christians:[98]

"The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honoured as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer.... since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head." "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church."

Pope Paul VI's "Credo of the People of God" states:[99][100]

"The Mother of the Church, carries on in heaven her maternal role with regard to the members of Christ, cooperating in the birth and development of divine life in the souls of the redeemed."

In Redemptoris Mater Pope John Paul II referred to Paul VI's "Credo of the People of God" as a reaffirmation of the statement that Mary is the "mother of the entire Christian people, both faithful and pastors" and wrote that the Credo "restated this truth in an even more forceful way":[99]

Pope Benedict XVI also referred to the Credo of Paul VI and stated that it sums up all of the scriptural texts that relate to the matter.[100]

In his homily on 2015 New Year’s Day, Pope Francis said that Jesus and his mother Mary are “inseparable,” just like Jesus and the Church, who is the mother of all humanity that guides her children to God.[101]

Queen of Heaven

Statue (detail) of the Assumption of Mary in Attard, Malta.

The doctrine that the Virgin Mary has been crowned Queen of Heaven goes back to the early patristic writers of the Church such as St. Gregory Nazianzen "the Mother of the King of the universe," and the "Virgin Mother who brought forth the King of the whole world,"[102] Prudentius, the Mother marvels "that she has brought forth God as man, and even as Supreme King."[103] and, St. Ephrem, "Let Heaven sustain me in its embrace, because I am honored above it. For heaven was not Thy mother, but Thou hast made it Thy throne. How much more honorable and venerable than the throne of a king is her mother."[104] The Catholic Church often sees Mary as queen in heaven, bearing a crown of twelve stars in Revelation[105]

Despite arguments by many Pentecostal,Protestant and a few churches that say that that Mother Mary isn't depicted as the 'Queen of Heaven and the world' in the Bible.The Catholic Church and many others point out the verses from the Book of Revelations in Chapter 12 which states clearly Mother Mary as a Queen, with a crown of twelve stars and the Moon under her feet and cloaked with the Sun.

12 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

Many Popes have given tribute to it. Mary is the Queen of Heaven and Earth, (Pius IX), Queen and Ruler of the Universe (Leo XIII) and Queen of the World (Pius XII)[106] The theological and logical foundation of these titles rests in the dogma of Mary as the Mother of God. As mother of God, she participates in his salvation plan. The Catholic faith teaches that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother's solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen:[107]

Certainly, in the full and strict meaning of the term, only Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is King; but Mary, too, as Mother of the divine Christ, as His associate in the redemption, in his struggle with His enemies and His final victory over them, has a share, though in a limited and analogous way, in His royal dignity. For from her union with Christ she attains a radiant eminence transcending that of any other creature; from her union with Christ she receives the royal right to dispose of the treasures of the Divine Redeemer's Kingdom; from her union with Christ finally is derived the inexhaustible efficacy of her maternal intercession before the Son and His Father.[107]

Co-Redemptrix

Main article: Co-Redemptrix
Pietro Lorenzetti, 1310.

Co-Redemptrix refers to the participation of Mary in the salvation process. Already, Irenaeus, the Church Father (died 200), referred to Mary as "causa salutis" [cause of our salvation] given her "fiat."[108] It is teaching, which has been considered since the 15th century[109] but never declared a dogma. The Roman Catholic view of Co-Redemptrix does not imply that Mary participates as equal part in the redemption of the human race, since Christ is the only redeemer.[110] Mary herself needed redemption and was redeemed by Jesus Christ her son. Being redeemed by Christ, implies that she cannot be his equal part in the redemption process.[111]

Co-redemptrix refers to an indirect or unequal but important participation by Mary in the redemption process. She gave free consent to give life to the redeemer, to share his life, to suffer with him under the cross and to sacrifice him for the sake of the redemption of mankind. Co-redemption is not something new.

Papal teaching began to mention this aspect in official Church documents during the pontificate of Pope Pius X[112] Pius X referred to it in his encyclical Ad diem illum.[113] Pope Benedict XV first described the term in his own right in his Apostolic Letter, Inter Soldalica, issued March 22, 1918.[114][114] Pope Pius XII repeated this argument with slightly different accents in his encyclical Mystici Corporis.[115] In the Papal bull Munificentissimus Deus on dogma of the assumption, Pope Pius declares that “the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination, immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, as the noble associate of the divine Redeemer[116]

Mediatrix

Main article: Mediatrix

In Catholic teachings, Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.[117] He alone reconciled through his death on the Cross creator and creation. But this does not exclude a secondary mediating role for Mary, preparatory, supportive, in the view of several prominent, but not all Catholics. The teaching that Mary intercedes for all believers and especially those who request her intercession through prayer has been held in the Church since early times, for example by Ephraim, the Syrian “after the mediater a mediatrix for the whole world[118] Intercession is something that may be done by all the heavenly saints, but Mary is seen as having the greatest intercessionary power. The earliest surviving recorded prayer to Mary is the Sub tuum praesidium, written in Greek.[119]

Mary has increasingly been seen as a principal dispenser of God's graces and Advocate for the people of God and is mentioned as such in several official Church documents. Pope Pius IX used the title in Ineffabilis Deus. In the first of his so-called Rosary encyclicals, Supremi apostolatus officio (1883), Pope Leo XIII calls Our Lady the guardian of our peace and the dispensatrix of heavenly graces. The following year, 1884, his encyclical Superiore anno speaks of the prayers presented to God through her whom He has chosen to be the dispenser of all heavenly graces. Pope Pius X employed this title in Ad diem illum in 1904, Pope Benedict XV introduced it into the Marian liturgy when he created the Marian feast of Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces in 1921, In his 1954 encyclical Ad caeli reginam, Pope Pius XII calls Mary the Mediatrix of peace.[120]

Encyclicals

Popes have been important in shaping both the theological and the devotional aspects of the Roman Catholic perspective on the Virgin Mary.[121] Theologically, popes have highlighted the inner link between Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, in the encyclicals Mystici corporis,[122] Lumen gentium and Redemptoris Mater.[123]

Marian devotions and traditions

Main article: Marian devotions
Women praying to Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Marian devotions are highly prominent within the Roman Catholic tradition and a wide variety of devotions ranging from Consecration to Mary, to the wearing of scapular, to multi-day prayers such as Rosary Novenas are practiced by Catholics.[127][128][129][130]

The spread of Marian devotions, such as the Rosary via lay organizations, has also influenced popular interest in Mariology, the growth of Marian devotions building sensus fidelium, which influences the public interest in specific aspects of Mariology.[131] Marian devotions generally begin at the level of popular piety, often in connection with the religious experiences and visions of simple and modest individuals (in some cases children), and the recounting of their experiences in time creates strong emotions among numerous Roman Catholics to build sensus fidelium.[132][133]

Theologians have at times cited in support of their Mariology this constant sensus fidelium, e.g. Saint Alphonsus Liguori valued texts and traditions of the Church Fathers as expressions of the sensus fidelium of the past and attributed great weight to the argument that "the greater part of the faithful have always had recourse to the intercession of the divine mother for all the graces which they desire".[134] Speaking of the witness of the Church Fathers in attributing certain titles to Mary, in Fulgens corona Pope Pius XII wrote:

If the popular praises of the Blessed Virgin Mary be given the careful consideration they deserve, who will dare to doubt that she, who was purer than the angels and at all times pure, was at any moment, even for the briefest instant, not free from every stain of sin?[135]

The Marian dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary were defined in part on the basis of the sensus fidei, "the supernatural appreciation of faith on the part of the whole people, when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals".[136] In the case of the dogmas of Immaculate Conception and Assumption, the two popes concerned consulted the Catholic bishops worldwide about the faith of the community before proceeding to define the dogma.[137]

Referring to these dogmas, in 2010 Pope Benedict XVI called the People of God the "teacher that goes first" and stated:

"Faith both in the Immaculate Conception and in the bodily Assumption of the Virgin was already present in the People of God, while theology had not yet found the key to interpreting it in the totality of the doctrine of the faith. The People of God therefore precede theologians and this is all thanks to that supernatural sensus fidei, namely, that capacity infused by the Holy Spirit that qualifies us to embrace the reality of the faith with humility of heart and mind. In this sense, the People of God is the 'teacher that goes first' and must then be more deeply examined and intellectually accepted by theology."[138]

Marian devotions have been encouraged by popes, and in Marialis Cultus Pope Paul VI stated:"From the moment when we were called to the See of Peter, we have constantly striven to enhance devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[139] In Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope John Paul II stated: "Among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary.[140]

Devotion to the Virgin Mary does not, however, amount to worship - which is reserved for God; Catholics view Mary as subordinate to Christ, but uniquely so, in that she is seen as above all other creatures. In 787 the Second Council of Nicaea affirmed a three-level hierarchy of latria, hyperdulia and dulia that applies to God, the Virgin Mary and then to the other saints.[141][142][143]

Marian Processions

The annual Grand Marian Procession through Downtown Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, California, a Marian procession took place annually for roughly the first 100 years following the founding of the city. In an attempt to revive the custom of religious processions, in September 2011 the Queen of Angels Foundation, founded by Mark Anchor Albert, inaugurated an annual "Grand Marian Procession" in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles' historic core.[144][145] This yearly procession, intended to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the City of Los Angeles, begins outside of the parish of La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles which is part of the Los Angeles Plaza Historic District, better known as "La Placita". By way of city streets, the procession eventually terminates at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels where a public Rosary and Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary are offered.[146] Subsequent years have seen the involvement and participation of numerous chivalric, fraternal, and religious orders, parishes, lay groups, political figures, as well as other religious and civic organizations.

Differing perspectives

Throughout the centuries, Catholics have viewed the Virgin Mary from a number of perspectives, at times derived from specific Marian attributes ranging from queenship to humility and at other times based on cultural preferences of events taking place at specific points in history.[147][148] In parallel with the traditional approaches to Mariology, opposing views based on progressive interpretations of have been presented by feminists, psychologists and liberal Catholics.[149][150]

Traditional views

A statute of John Paul II with Our Lady of Guadalupe, by Pacho Cárdenas, made entirely with keys donated by Mexicans to symbolize that they had given him the keys to their hearts.[151]

Traditional views on Mary have emphasized the Marian dogmas and doctrines, accompanied by devotions and venerations. Yet these views have changed and been transformed over time.

An example of the changing perspectives on the Virgin Mary based on specific spiritual views, and its adoption within a culture a world away is the transformation of the image of Mary from a Heavenly Queen to a mother of humility, and the construction of views to accommodate both perspectives. While depictions of the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven or Coronation of the Virgin by artists such as Paolo Veneziano or Giuliano da Rimini were common in the early part of the 14th century, they did not fit with the virtue of humility which was a key tenet of the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi. The concept of the Virgin of humility was developed in the 14th century in order to accommodate Franciscan piety, by depicting the Madonna sitting on the ground, rather than a throne. It offered a view of the Virgin Mary (often barefoot) as a mother nursing a child, rather than a Queen in a coronation scene.[152][153][154]

As the Franciscans began to preach in China, the notion of the Virgin of humility resonated well with the Chinese, partly due to the cultural acceptance of humility as a virtue in China, and partly due to its similarity to the motherly, merciful figure of Kuanyin, which was much admired in south China.[155][156][157] However, by the middle of the 15th century, a dual view had emerged in Europe, as represented by Domenico di Bartolo's 1433 Madonna of humility which expressed the symbolic duality of her nature: an earthly barefoot woman, as well as a heavenly queen. Despite her low, sitting position, the depiction of star and the gems, as well as a halo, signify the regal status of the Virgin, as she is being attended to while she holds the Child Jesus.[158]

Saint Juan Diego's account of the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to him in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico provides another example of the cultural adaptation of the view of the Virgin Mary. Juan Diego did not describe the Virgin Mary as either European or Middle Eastern, but as a tanned Aztec princess who spoke in his local Nahuatl language, and not in Spanish. The image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that is highly venerated in Mexico has the appearance of a South American, rather than a European woman, and the clothing of the Virgin of Guadalupe has been identified as that of an Aztec princess. The Virgin of Guadalupe was a turning point in the conversion of Latin America to Catholicism, and is the primary view of Mary among millions of Catholics in Mexico in the 21st century.[159][160][161] Pope John Paul II reinforced the localization of this view by permitting local Aztec dances during the ceremony in which he declared Juan Diego a saint, spoke in Nahuatl as part of the ceremony, called Juan Diego "the talking eagle" and asked him to show "the way that leads to the Dark Virgin of Tepeyac".[160] [162][163]

The view of the Virgin Mary as a "miracle worker" has existed for centuries and is still held by many Catholics in the 21st century.[164][165] The legends of the miracles of the Maddona of Orsanmichele in Florence go back to the Renaissance.[166] The legends of miracles performed by the image of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa also go back for centuries, and it continues to be venerated today as the Patron of Poland.[167][168] Every year, millions of Catholic pilgrims visit the Basilica at Our Lady of Lourdes in search of miraculous cures.[169][170] Although millions of Catholics hope for miracles on their pilgrimages, the Vatican has generally been reluctant to approve of modern miracles, unless they have been subject to extensive analysis.[171]

Liberal perspectives

Since the end of the 19th century, a number of progressive and liberal perspectives of Mariology have been presented, ranging from feminist criticisms to interpretations based on modern psychology and liberal Catholic viewpoints. These views are generally critical of the Roman Catholic approach to Mariology as well as the Eastern Orthodox church, which has even more Marian emphasis within its official liturgy.[149][150][172]

Some feminists contend that, as with other women saints such as Joan of Arc, the image of Mary is a construct of the patriarchal mind. They argue that Marian dogmas and doctrines and the typical forms of Marian devotion reinforce patriarchy by offering women temporary comfort from the ongoing oppression inflicted on them by male dominated churches and societies.[150] In the feminist view, old gender stereotypes persist within traditional Marian teachings and theological doctrines. To that end books on feminist Mariology have been published to present opposing interpretations and perspectives.[12]

The psychological analysis of Marian teachings dates back to Sigmund Freud, who used the title of a poem by Goethe in his 1911 paper Great is Diana of the Ephesians.[13] Carl Jung, on the other hand, viewed the Virgin Mary as a spiritual version of the more loving Goddess Eros.[173] A large number of other psychological interpretations have been presented through the years, ranging from the study of the similarities of the Virgin Mary and the Buddhist Goddess Tara, or the humble and loving figure presented by the East Asian Goddess Kwan Yin.[14]

Since the Reformation many Christians have opposed Marian venerations, and that trend has continued into the 21st century among progressive and liberal Christians, who see the high level of attention paid to the Virgin Mary both as being without sufficient grounding in Scripture and as distracting from the worship due to Christ.[11][174]

Groups of liberal Catholics view the traditional image of the Virgin Mary as presented by the Catholic Church as an obstacle towards realization of the goal of womanhood, and as a symbol of the systemic patriarchal oppression of women within the Church. Moreover, some liberal Catholics view the cultivation of the traditional image of Mary as a method of manipulation of Catholics at large by the Church hierarchy.[175] Other liberal Christians argue that the modern concepts of equal opportunity for men and women does not resonate well with the humble image of Mary, obediently and subserviently kneeling before Christ.[176]

Eastern Catholic differences from Latin Church

While Eastern-Rite Catholics belong to the Catholic Church and are also under the Pope's authority and hold the same theological beliefs as Latin-Rite Catholics, Eastern theology has a notably different emphasis on specific Marian beliefs. Furthermore, much of the literature and publications on Mariology and centers for its study have been related to the Latin Rite of the Church.

Assumption of Mary

The traditional Eastern expression of this doctrine is the Dormition of the Theotokos which emphasises her falling asleep to be later assumed into heaven. The differences in these observances is for some Eastern Catholics superficial.[177] However, Latin Catholics in general disagree with this eastern understanding.[178]

Immaculate Conception

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is a teaching of Eastern origin but expressed in the terminology of the Western Church.[179] The Western concept of the Virgin Mary being free from original sin as defined by St. Augustine of Hippo is not accepted in the East. However, Eastern Catholics recognized from ancient times that Mary was preserved by God from the contagion of original sin. Eastern Catholics while not observing the Latin-Rite holy day, have no difficulty affirming it or even dedicating their churches to the Virgin Mary under this title.[180]

Centers for Mariological studies

The formal study of Mariology within the circles associated with the Holy See took a major step forward between the Holy Year 1950 and 1958 based on the actions of Pope Pius XII, who authorized institutions for increased academic research into the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Of these organizations, the Marianum Pontifical Theological Faculty is the most active marilogical centre in Rome (www.marianum.it).[183] This Pontifical Catholic Faculty was founded by Father Gabriel Roschini (who directed it for several years) under the direction of Pope Pius XII in 1950. At the Marianum, one can get a master's degree in Mariology (2-year academic program) and one can also get a doctorate in Mariology. This mariological facility has a library with more than 85,000 volumes on Mariology and a number of magazines and journals of theological and Mariological concern. Marianum is also the name of the prestigious journal of Marian theology, founded by Father Roschini in 1939.[182]

In 1975, the University of Dayton in Ohio formed the International Marian Research Institute in affiliation with the Marianum to offer a doctorate in sacred theology (S.T.D.) and a licentiate in sacred theology (S.T.L.).[184]

Further reading

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3 (2005) defines Mariology as "the systematic study of the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of her place in the economy of the Incarnation"
  2. ↑ Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia (ISBN 978-0-87973-669-9 page 649) defines Mariology as "The study of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Christian theology, especially in the Roman Catholic Church"
  3. ↑ Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints ISBN 978-1-931709-75-0 page 917 defines Mariology as "Branch of theology that focuses on the Blessed Virgin. It examines her life, virtues, and important role in the economy of salvation."
  4. ↑ Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions by Wendy Doniger, 1999 ISBN 0-87779-044-2 page 696
  5. ↑ Symbolic scores: studies in the music of the Renaissance by Willem Elders 1997 ISBN 90-04-09970-0 page 151
  6. ↑ Maiden and Mother: Prayers, Hymns, Devotions, and Songs to the Beloved Virgin Mary Throughout the Year by Margaret M. Miles 2001 ISBN 0-86012-305-7 page vii
  7. 1 2 From Trent to Vatican Two by Raymond F. Bulman, Frederick J. Parrella 2006 Oxford UP ISBN 0-19-517807-6 pages 179-180
  8. ↑ Mary in the New Testament by Raymond E. Brown 1978 ISBN 0-8091-2168-9 page 28, "in the course of centuries, Mariology has had an enormous development"
  9. ↑ Luigi Gambro in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons ISBN 1-57918-355-7, 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, pages 142-145
  10. ↑ Trent Pomplun in The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism by James Buckley, Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt and Trent Pomplun (Dec 21, 2010) ISBN 1-4443-3732-7 pages 319-320
  11. 1 2 Christianity: the first two thousand years by David Lawrence Edwards 2001 ISBN 0-304-70127-0 pages 438-439
  12. 1 2 A feminist companion to Mariology by Amy-Jill Levine, Maria Mayo Robbins 2005 ISBN 0-8264-6661-3 page 147
  13. 1 2 Sigmund Freud's Christian unconscious by Paul C. Vitz 1993 ISBN 0-8028-0690-2 page 191
  14. 1 2 Encyclopedia of psychology and religion: L - Z by David Adams Leeming 2009 ISBN 0-387-71801-X page 900
  15. ↑ Vatican website: Benedict XVI Address to the 23 Mariological Congress, September 8, 2012
  16. ↑ Mary: The Church at the Source by Benedict XVI, Adrian Walker and Hans Urs Von Balthasar (Oct 1, 2005) ISBN 1-58617-018-X page 30
  17. ↑ Mary: The Church at the Source, pp. 34-35.
  18. ↑ Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ: A Model Theologian, by Patrick W. Carey (September 1, 2010) ISBN 0-8091-0571-3 page 553
  19. ↑ Mary: The Church at the Source, pp. 173-174.
  20. ↑ Michael Schmaus in the Encyclopedia of Theology: a Concise Sacramentum Mundi edited by Karl Rahner (31 Dec 1999) ISBN 0-86012-006-6 pages 900-904
  21. ↑ C. Balic, "The Marian rules of Dun Scotus", Euntes Docete, 9, 1956, 110
  22. ↑ Bonaventura, Opera VI, 497
  23. ↑ The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism by James Buckley, Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt and Trent Pomplun (December 21, 2010) ISBN 1-4443-3732-7 page 324
  24. ↑ Bäumer, Kirchenlexikon', Pius XII
  25. ↑ Encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam item 44, at the Vatican website
  26. ↑ Edward Sri "Advocate and Queen" in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons, Queenship Publishing ISBN 1-57918-355-7 pages 498-499
  27. ↑ Contemporary Catholic Theology by Liam Gearon and Michael A. Hayes (Mar 1, 1999) ISBN 0-8264-1172-X page 283
  28. ↑ Lumen gentium, item 67 at the Vatican website
  29. ↑ Church and Society: The Laurence J. McGinley Lectures by Avery Dulles (March 14, 2008) ISBN 0-8232-2862-2 page 256
  30. 1 2 See John Henry Newman: Mariology is always christocentric, in Michael Testa, Mary: The Virgin Mary in the Life and Writings of John Henry Newman 2001; "Mariology Is Christology", in Vittorio Messori, The Mary Hypothesis, Rome: 2005
  31. ↑ Encyclical Redemptoris Mater, by Pope John Paul II, items 1, 48 and 51 Text at the Vatican web site
  32. ↑ Mary: The Church at the Source, pp. 51-52.
  33. ↑ Mary: The Church at the Source p. 29.
  34. ↑ Msgr. Charles Mangan in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons ISBN 1-57918-355-7, 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, pages 520-529
  35. ↑ see Pius XII, Mystici corporis, also John Paul II in Redemptoris Mater: The Second Vatican Council, by presenting Mary in the mystery of Christ, also finds the path to a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Church. Mary, as the Mother of Christ, is in a particular way united with the Church, "which the Lord established as his own body."11 "one cannot think of the reality of the Incarnation without referring to Mary, the Mother of the Incarnate Word." Redemptoris Mater item 44
  36. ↑ "If we look at the Church, we have to have to consider the miraculous deeds which God performed with his mother." (Pope Paul VI, Vatican II, November 21, 1964)
  37. ↑ Pope Saint Pius X, in Ad diem illum, section 5, 1904
  38. ↑ Paul Haffner, 2004 The mystery of Mary Gracewing Press ISBN 0-85244-650-0 page 17
  39. ↑ The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation, Congregation for Catholic Education Rome, March 25, 1988, item 18 Text at the University of Dayton
  40. ↑ Raymond Burke, in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, ISBN 1-57918-355-7 pages xvii-xx "The Virgin Mary in Intellectual and Spiritual Formation, issued during the heart of the Marian Year, on the first anniversary of the publication of Redemptoris Mater, reminds us that the promotion of the fuller knowledge of and more fervent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is the constant work of the Church."
  41. ↑ Michael Schmaus, Katholische Dogmatik: Mariologie, 1955, p. 174
  42. ↑ Matthewes-Green, Frederica (2007). The Lost Gospel of Mary: The Mother of Jesus in Three Ancient Texts. Brewster MA: Paraclete Press. pp. 85–87. ISBN 978-1-55725-536-5.
  43. ↑ Benz, Ernst The Eastern Orthodox Church: Its Thought and Life 2009 ISBN 0-202-36298-1 page 62
  44. ↑ Renaissance Art: A Very Short Introduction by Geraldine A. Johnson 2005 ISBN 0-19-280354-9 pages 103-104
  45. ↑ Otto Stegmüller, Barock, in Marienkunde, 1967 566
  46. ↑ A Roskovany, conceptu immacolata ex monumentis omnium seculrorum demonstrate III, Budapest: 1873
  47. ↑ Leo Cardinal Scheffczyk, Vaticanum II, in Marienlexikon, 567
  48. ↑ Murphy, John Mary's Immaculate Heart 2007 ISBN 1-4067-3409-8 page 37 and pages 59–60
  49. ↑ "Pope John Paul II 1986 Speech at the Vatican Website". Vatican.va. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  50. ↑ Arthur Calkins, The Alliance of the Two Hearts and Consecration, Miles Immaculatae XXXI (July/December 1995) 389–407.
  51. ↑ Bäumer 534
  52. ↑ Pope John Paul II. "Apostolic Letter of the Supreme Pontiff on the Most Holy Rosary". Rosarium Virginis Mariae. Vatican. Retrieved 4 Oct 2010.
  53. 1 2 Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7, pages 5-11
  54. 1 2 Raymond Burke, in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, ISBN 1-57918-355-7 pages xvii-xx
  55. ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church 88: The Dogmas of the Faith
  56. 1 2 3 Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 page 51
  57. ↑ L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English 25 June 1997, page 10
  58. ↑ "Voice of the People for Mary Mediatrix". Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  59. ↑ "VoxPopuli.org Old Site - See details for the new site at FifthMarianDogma.com". voxpopuli.org.
  60. ↑ Robert Moynihan, Is the Time Ripe for a 5th Marian Dogma? Zenit, March 1, 2010
  61. 1 2 Manfred Hauke, "The Mother of God" in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons, Queenship Publishing ISBN 1-57918-355-7 page 167-168
  62. 1 2 Saunders, William. "Mary, Mother of God", The Arlington Catholic Herald, December 22, 1994
  63. ↑ Hauke, pp.170-171.
  64. ↑ Hauke, p.170.
  65. ↑ Pope Paul VI. Lumen gentium, Vatican, November 21, 1964
  66. ↑ "Catechism of the Catholic Church". usccb.org.
  67. ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church, item 966 at the vatican Web site
  68. 1 2 3 Introduction to Mary by Mark Miravalle (1993) Queenship Pub. Co. ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 pages 72-75
  69. ↑ Encyclopedia of Catholicism by Frank K. Flinn, J. Gordon Melton 207 ISBN 0-8160-5455-X page 267
  70. ↑ Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus item 44 at the Vatican web site
  71. 1 2 3 Introduction to Mary by Mark Miravalle (1993) Queenship Pub. Co. ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 pages 75-78
  72. ↑ Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations by J. Gordon Melton ISBN 1-59884-205-6 page 50
  73. ↑ Encyclical Deiparae Virginis Mariae at the Vatican web site
  74. ↑ As the Virgin Mary remained an ever-virgin and sinless, it is viewed that the Virgin Mary could not thus suffer the consequences of Original Sin, which is chiefly Death. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3819.htm Nicea II Session 6 Decree
  75. ↑ "During time of Adrian I Nicaea-2". ewtn.com.
  76. ↑ Paul Haffner in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons ISBN 1-57918-355-7, 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, pages 328-350
  77. ↑ Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus item 39at the Vatican web site
  78. 1 2 3 Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 pages 64 and 70
  79. 1 2 3 Fr. Peter Fehlner, "The Predestination of the Virgin Mother and Her Immaculate Conception" in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons, Queenship Publishing ISBN 1-57918-355-7 pages 215-217
  80. ↑ The Creeds of Christendom by Philip Schaff 2009 ISBN 1-115-46834-0 page 211
  81. ↑ Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 page 64-70
  82. ↑ Encyclical Fulgens corona, item 10 at the Vatican web site
  83. ↑ Lumen gentium item 61 at the Vatican web site
  84. ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church §499
  85. ↑ Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7, pages 56-64
  86. ↑ Mary in the New Testament edited by Raymond Edward Brown 1978 ISBN 0-8091-2168-9 page 273
  87. ↑ A history of the church in the Middle Ages by F. Donald Logan, 2002, ISBN 0-415-13289-4, p150
  88. ↑ Joseph, Mary, Jesus by Lucien Deiss, Madeleine Beaumont 1996 ISBN 0-8146-2255-0 page 30
  89. ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church by the Vatican, 2002 ISBN 0-86012-324-3 page 112
  90. 1 2 3 4 5 Vatican website: Catechism items 499-501
  91. ↑ Vatican website: Lumen gentium item 57
  92. ↑ Encyclical Mystici corporis item 110 Mystici corporis at the Vaican website
  93. 1 2 E.g. by Tertullian, Eunomius, Helvisius, Bonosus of Sardica; see Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma ISBN 0-89555-009-1 page 249
  94. ↑ J D Aldama, La vergenidad in partu en la exegesis patristica, Salamanca, 1962, page 113
  95. ↑ Introduction to Mary by Mark Miravalle (1993) Queenship Pub. Co. ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7 pages 10-11
  96. 1 2 International Theological Commission, Vol II: 1986-2007 edited by Michael Sharkey and Thomas Weinandy (Aug 21, 2009) ISBN 1-58617-226-3 page 208
  97. 1 2 Hugo Rahner, "Mater Ecclesia - Lobpreis der Kirche aus dem ersten Jahrtausend", Einsiedeln/Köln 1944
  98. ↑ "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church." Catechism item 963 at the Vatican web site
  99. 1 2 John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, no. 47, citing Pope Paul VI, Solemn Profession of Faith (30 June 1968), 15: Acta Apostolicae Sedis 60 (1968) 438f.
  100. 1 2 Mary: The Church at the Source by Benedict XVI, Adrian Walker and Hans Urs Von Balthasar (Oct 1, 2005) ISBN 1-58617-018-X pages 58-59
  101. ↑ "Without the Church, Jesus 'is at the mercy of our imagination,' Pope says". Catholic News Agency.
  102. ↑ S. Gregorius Naz., Poemata dogmatica, XVIII, v. 58; PG XXXVII, 485.
  103. ↑ Prudentius, Dittochaeum, XXVII: PL LX, 102 A.
  104. ↑ S. Ephraem, Hymni de B. Maria, ed. Th. J. Lamy, t. II, Mechliniae, 1886, hymn. XIX, p. 624.
  105. ↑ 12, verses 1-5.
  106. ↑ in:enyclical Ad caeli reginam
  107. 1 2 Ad Caeli reginam 39
  108. ↑ "Why It's Not the Right Time for a Dogma on Mary as Co-redemptrix". ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome.
  109. ↑ Ott 256
  110. ↑ 1Tim 2,5
  111. ↑ Ott Dogmatics 256
  112. ↑ Ott 256.
  113. ↑ Ad diem illum, 14
  114. 1 2 AAS, 1918, 181
  115. ↑ Mystici corporis, 110
  116. ↑ Munificentissimus Deus 40
  117. ↑ 1 Tim, 2,5
  118. ↑ Oratio IV ad Deiparem
  119. ↑ and dating from approximately AD 250
  120. ↑ Ad Caeli Reginam, 51
  121. ↑ Magnan, Charles. "The Spiritual Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons, 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, Queenship Publishing ISBN 1-57918-355-7 pages 530-541
  122. ↑ Pope Pius XII. Mystici corporis Christi, 29 June 1943, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  123. ↑ Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 25 March, 1987, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  124. ↑ Pope Pius X. Ad diem illum, 2 February 1904, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  125. ↑ Pope Pius XII, Fulgens corona, 8 September 1953, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  126. ↑ Pope Pius XII. Ad Caeli Reginam, 11 October 1954, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  127. ↑ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X page 341
  128. ↑ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 0-87973-910-X page 168
  129. ↑ Miravalle, Mark Introduction to Mary 1993, ISBN 978-1-882972-06-7, pages 13-23
  130. ↑ Fr. Etienne Richter "Marian Devotion, the Rosary and the Scapular" in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons 2008 edited by M. Miravalle ISBN 978-1-57918-355-4 pages 667-679
  131. ↑ Stefano Manelli in Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, seminarians, and Consecrated Persons ISBN 1-57918-355-7, 2008 edited by M. Miravalle, page 12
  132. ↑ John T. Ford "Newman on 'Sensus Fidelium' and Mariology," Marian Studies, Vol. 28 (1977), pp. 144-45
  133. ↑ The Cult of the Mother of God in Byzantium by Leslie Brubaker and Mary Cunningham 2011 ISBN 0-7546-6266-7 pages 201-203
  134. ↑ Alphonsus De Liguori: Selected Writings by Saint Alfonso Maria de' Liguori 1999 ISBN 0-8091-3771-2 pages 243 and 43
  135. ↑ Pope Pius XII, encyclical Fulgens corona Encyclical Fulgens corona, item 10 at the Vatican web site
  136. ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 92
  137. ↑ William Henn, "Interpreting Marian Doctrine" in Gregorianum 70/3 (1989), p. 431
  138. ↑ Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience 7 July 2010 at the Vatican web site
  139. ↑ Vatican web site: Apostolic Letter Marialis Cultus
  140. ↑ Vatican web site: Rosarium Virginis Mariae
  141. ↑ The History of the Christian Church by Philip Smith 2009 ISBN 1-150-72245-2 page 288
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  149. 1 2 Encyclopedia of feminist literature by Mary Ellen Snodgrass 2006 ISBN 0-8160-6040-1 page 547
  150. 1 2 3 The thousand faces of the Virgin Mary by George Henry Tavard 1996 ISBN 0-8146-5914-4 page 253
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  162. ↑ "Canonization of Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin". Retrieved November 18, 2010.
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  164. ↑ Miracles of Our Lady by Gonzalo de Berceo, Richard Terry Mount, Annette Grant Cash 1997 ISBN 0-8131-2019-5 page 6–7
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  166. ↑ Piety and charity in late medieval Florence by John Henderson 1997 ISBN 0-226-32688-8 page 196
  167. ↑ Pilgrimage to images in the fifteenth century by Robert Maniura 2004 ISBN 1-84383-055-8 page 104
  168. ↑ Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz by Elaine Murray Stone 1997 ISBN 0-8091-6637-2 pages 7–8
  169. ↑ Lourdes: A History of Its Apparitions and Cures by Georges Bertrin 2004 ISBN 1-4179-8123-7 page 181
  170. ↑ The encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 3 by Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley 2003 ISBN 90-04-12654-6 page 339
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  172. ↑ Mary is for Everyone by William McLoughlin, Jill Pinnock 1998 ISBN 0-85244-429-X page 183
  173. ↑ Carl Jung by Claire Dunne 2002 ISBN 0-8264-6307-X page 84
  174. ↑ Progressive Christianity by William A. Vrooman 2005 ISBN 1-4179-9829-6 page 150
  175. ↑ Hail Mary?: the struggle for ultimate womanhood in Catholicism by Maurice Hamington 1995, ISBN 0-415-91304-7, pages 2 and 36
  176. ↑ Blessed one: Protestant perspectives on Mary by Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Cynthia L. Rigby 2002 ISBN 0-664-22438-5 page 102
  177. ↑ "From East to West". east2west.org.
  178. ↑ Ecclesiasticus II: Orthodox Icons, Saints, Feasts and Prayer by George Dion Dragas 2005 ISBN 0-9745618-0-0 page 178
  179. ↑ "From East to West". east2west.org.
  180. ↑ "Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Perth Amboy, NJ". assumptioncatholicchurch.net.
  181. 1 2 Bäumer, Marienlexikon, 534
  182. 1 2 3 Bäumer, Marienlexikon, 535
  183. ↑ at Viale 30 Aprile- 6, 00153, Rome
  184. ↑ "The Mary Page". udayton.edu.

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Sources

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