Mariological papal documents

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Madonna and Child, Master of Badia a Isola, c.1300 Master Badia a Isola.jpg
Madonna and Child, Master of Badia a Isola, c.1300

Mariological papal documents have been a major force that has shaped Roman Catholic Mariology over the centuries. Mariology is developed by theologians on the basis not only of Scripture and Tradition but also of the sensus fidei of the faithful as a whole, "from the bishops to the last of the faithful", [1] and papal documents have recorded those developments, defining Marian dogmas, spreading doctrines and encouraging devotions within the Catholic Church.

Contents

Popes have been highly influential for the development of doctrine and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They made decisions not only in the area of Marian beliefs but also Marian practices and devotions. Before the twentieth century, Popes promulgated Marian veneration and beliefs by authorizing new Marian feast days, prayers, initiatives, and special privileges. Since Pope Leo XIII, Popes have promulgated Mariology also with encyclicals, apostolic letters and with two dogmas (Immaculate Conception and Assumption). This article reviews the major official teachings by the popes.

Background

Historically a Papal bull was "an Apostolic letter with a leaden seal." [2] A papal bull is an official formal decree. In terms of formality, papal bulls and apostolic constitutions are above encyclicals, followed by apostolic letters. An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope, and is generally issued as a bull with the requisite formalities regarding seal and signature. By their nature, apostolic constitutions are addressed to the public, whereas encyclicals are usually addressed to patriarchs, primates, archbishops and bishops in communion with the Holy See. [3]

Dogmas

The perpetual virginity of Mary

Mother of God

This dogma was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 and promulgated by Pope Celestine I. This dogma has attached to it the penalty of an anathema. It was promulgated during the Arian Heresy who state that Mary was just the "Christotokos" (Mother of the Christ) rather than the "Theotokos" (Mother of God)

The Immaculate Conception

Coat of arms of Pius X Pio Nono.svg
Coat of arms of Pius X

The Assumption

On Mary as Queen of Heaven

Mary, as intercessor for Peace

Pius XII's signature Piusxii.jpg
Pius XII's signature

On the rosary

John Paul II Coat of arms with the Marian Cross John paul 2 coa.svg
John Paul II Coat of arms with the Marian Cross

Sodality of Our Lady

Other documents

Notes

  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 92
  2. Thurston, Herbert. "Bulls and Briefs." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 23 August 2017
  3. Mann, Stephanie A., "What Is a Papal Bull?", Our Sunday Visitor, 1 September 2016
  4. The mystery of Mary by Paul Haffner 2004 ISBN   0852446500 page 120
  5. Pope Pius IX, "Ubi primum", 2 February 1849, PapalEncyclicals.net
  6. Pope Pius X. Ad diem Illum, §7, 2 February 1904, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  7. Pope Pius XII, Fulgens corona, 8 September 1953, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  8. McNally, Terrence, What Every Catholic Should Know about Mary ISBN   1-4415-1051-6 page 113
  9. Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus, 1 November 1950, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  10. Pope Pius XII, Ad Caeli Reginam, 11 October 1954, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  11. Pope Pius XII, Auspicia quaedam, 1 May 1948, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  12. Pope Paul VI, Christi Matri, 15 September 1966, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  13. "of the Popes and Councils on the Blessed Virgin Mary", University of Dayton". Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  14. "The Rosary Predated St. Dominic", Zenit, 17 October 2002
  15. Pope Leo XIII, Supremi apostolatus officio, Vatican, 1 September 1883
  16. Pope Leo XIII, Superiore anno, Vatican, 30 August 1884
  17. The Christian Faith: In the Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church by Jacques Dupuis 2001 ISBN   0-8189-0893-9 page 285
  18. Pope Leo XIII, Octobri mense, 22 September 1891, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  19. Pope Pius XII, Ingruentium malorum , 15 September 1951, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  20. Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 16 October 2002, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  21. Bis Saeculari 13
  22. Pope Paul VI, Signum Magnum, 13 May 1967, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  23. History of Marialis Cultus
  24. Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, 2 February 1974, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  25. Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 25 March 1987, Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Sources

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