The Virgin Mary (book)

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First edition (publ. Claudiana) LaVergineMaria.jpg
First edition (publ. Claudiana)

The Virgin Mary: The Roman Catholic Marian Doctrine is the English title of Italian Protestant theologian Giovanni Miegge's 1950 work La vergine Maria: Saggio di storia del dogma. [1] In the original Italian language it has gone through four printings, the most recent in 2008. [1]

Giovanni Miegge Italian theologian

Giovanni Miegge (1900–1961) was an Italian Protestant theologian and author on religious issues. He was professor of theology at the Waldensian school of theology in Rome, Italy.

Italian language Romance language

Italian is a Romance language of the Indo-European language family. Italian descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire and, together with Sardinian, is by most measures the closest language to it of the Romance languages. Italian is an official language in Italy, Switzerland, San Marino and Vatican City. It has an official minority status in western Istria. It formerly had official status in Albania, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro (Kotor) and Greece, and is generally understood in Corsica and Savoie. It also used to be an official language in the former Italian East Africa and Italian North Africa, where it still plays a significant role in various sectors. Italian is also spoken by large expatriate communities in the Americas and Australia. Italian is included under the languages covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Romania, although Italian is neither a co-official nor a protected language in these countries. Many speakers of Italian are native bilinguals of both Italian and other regional languages.

Contents

Overview

The book presents, in chronological order, the development of Roman Catholic Mariology. [2] It is primarily a critique from a Protestant viewpoint of Gabriel Roschini's 1947–8 Mariologia. It touches on a variety of doctrinal points, including the idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary, then turns to the uses of terms referring to Mary, including "Mother of God" and "Queen of Heaven". [3] Georges A. Barrois of Princeton Theological Seminary sees it as an attempt to find out the time and place when Roman Catholic doctrine "became inconsistent with the spirit or with the patterns of thought of original Christianity". [4]

Gabriel Roschini Italian priest and writer

Gabriel Maria Roschini, O.S.M. (1900–1977), was a Roman Catholic Italian priest and professor of Mariology, who published over 900 titles on the subject. During the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, he worked closely with the Vatican on Marian publications.

Perpetual virginity of Mary doctrine that Mary the mother of Jesus had never had sexual relations throughout her life; held by many Christian groups, including the Catholic Church

The perpetual virginity of Mary is a Marian doctrine, taught by the Catholic Church and held by a number of groups in Christianity, which asserts that Mary was "always a virgin, before, during and after the birth of Jesus Christ." This doctrine also proclaims that Mary had no marital relations after Jesus' birth nor gave birth to any children other than Jesus. While the Bible mentions brothers of Jesus, Catholic, Orthodox, and some traditional Protestant interpretations offer various explanations that align with the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity; that these siblings were either children of Joseph from a previous marriage, cousins of Jesus, or were closely associated with the Holy Family.

Queen of Heaven Christian devotion of Mary

Queen of Heaven is a title given to Mary, mother of Jesus, by Christians mainly of the Catholic Church, and also, to some extent, in Anglicanism, some Lutheran churches such as the Church of Sweden and Eastern Orthodoxy. The title is a consequence of the First Council of Ephesus in the fifth century, in which Mary was proclaimed "Theotokos", a title rendered in Latin as Mater Dei, in English "Mother of God".

Translations

The book was translated into English by Waldo Smith, with an added foreword by John A. Mackay, and published in 1956 by Westminster Press. [3] Reviewers present differing viewpoints on the quality of Smith's translation. Robert M. Grant of the University of Chicago praised it, with the exception of minor errors such as the plural "apocrypha" where singular "apocryphon" should be used instead, and referring to the Society of Jesus as the "Company of Jesus". [3] However, Eamon Carroll of The Catholic University of America was much more critical, describing it as "full of failures to express the sense of the Italian at all". In particular he criticises a passage in which a declarative statement of Saint Leo the Great (Pope Leo I) was made into an interrogative in translation, completely inverting the meaning, and the frequent mistranslations by way of false friends. [5]

John A. Mackay was a Presbyterian theologian, missionary, and educator. He was a strong advocate of the Ecumenical Movement and World Christianity.

University of Chicago Private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States

The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890, the school is located on a 217-acre campus in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, near Lake Michigan. The University of Chicago holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings.

Apocryphon, plural apocrypha, was a Greek term for a genre of Jewish and Early Christian writings that were meant to impart "secret teachings" or gnosis (knowledge) that could not be publicly taught. Such private instruction to the apostles figures in the canonical Gospels of the New Testament and furnishes the material of the "sayings" Gospel of Thomas and part of the material of the Gospel of Mary. It is purportedly a secret teaching supposedly committed to a trusted disciple by Christ after his resurrection. The secret teaching in Gnostic literature refers to several things.

The French translation, by Jacqueline Tadjer-Orenpo, was published in 1961. [6]

Reviews

Miegge comes in for criticism from Barrois for his scriptural exegesis, particularly in his interpretation of Mark 3: 31–35 and John 19: 25–27, where he states that Mary is "rebuked" by Jesus. Similarly, Miegge argues that Roman Catholic theologians "read too much" into the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1: 28 (the Annunciation), an assessment with which Barrois agrees; however, Barrois also states that Miegge seems to put too little weight on these words. [4] Carroll, himself a Catholic who admits that he is disposed to disagree with Miegge's analysis, praises the clarity with which Miegge analyses Catholic and Protestant differences in their conception of Christianity, but evaluated his description of Catholic Marian belief and practise as "often far removed from reality". [5] It was also reviewed in the International Review of Mission and The New York Times . [7] [8]

Exegesis Critical explanation or interpretation of a text

Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, particularly a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for work with the Bible; however, in modern usage "biblical exegesis" is used for greater specificity to distinguish it from any other broader critical text explanation.

Mark 3 Gospel according to Mark, chapter 3

Mark 3 is the third chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It relates a conflict over healing on the Sabbath, the Commissioning of the Twelve Apostles, a conflict with scribes and a meeting of Jesus with his own family.

John 19 Gospel according to John, chapter 19

John 19 is the nineteenth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that John composed this Gospel. This chapter records the events on the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, until his burial.

Editions

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OCLC, Inc., d/b/a OCLC is an American nonprofit cooperative organization "dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs". It was founded in 1967 as the Ohio College Library Center, then became the Online Computer Library Center as it expanded. In 2017, the name was formally changed to OCLC, Inc. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the largest online public access catalog (OPAC) in the world. OCLC is funded mainly by the fees that libraries have to pay for its services. OCLC also maintains the Dewey Decimal Classification system.

Related Research Articles

Immaculate Conception Catholic doctrine that Mary was conceived free from original sin

In Christian theology, the Immaculate Conception is the conception of the Virgin Mary free from original sin by virtue of the merits of her son Jesus. The Catholic Church teaches that God acted upon Mary in the first moment of her conception, keeping her "immaculate".

Catholic Mariology study of Mary as the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, and the Mother of the Church in Roman Catholoic theology

Catholic Mariology refers to Mariology—the systematic study of the person of Mary, mother of Jesus, and of her place in the Economy of Salvation—within Catholic theology. 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. 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.

Anglican Marian theology

Anglican Marian theology is the summation of the doctrines and beliefs of Anglicanism concerning Mary, mother of Jesus. As Anglicans believe that Jesus was both human and God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, within the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglican movement, Mary is accorded honour as the theotokos, a Koiné Greek term that means "God-bearer" or "one who gives birth to God".

Mariology branch of theology about Mary the mother of Jesus

Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mariology methodically relates teachings about her to other parts of the faith, such as teachings about Jesus, redemption and grace. Christian Mariology aims to connect scripture, tradition and the teachings of the Catholic Church on Mary. In the context of social history, Mariology may be broadly defined as the study of devotion to and thinking about Mary throughout the history of Christianity.

Protestant views on Mary

Protestant views on Mary include the theological positions of major Protestant representatives such as Martin Luther and John Calvin as well as some modern representatives. While it is difficult to generalize about the place of Mary, mother of Jesus in Protestantism given the great diversity of Protestant beliefs, some summary statements are attempted.

Karl Barth's views on Mary agreed with much Roman Catholic dogma but disagreed with the Catholic veneration of Mary. Barth, a leading 20th-century theologian, was a Reformed Protestant. Aware of the common dogmatic tradition of the early Church, Barth fully accepted the dogma of Mary as the Mother of God. Through Mary, Jesus belongs to the human race. Through Jesus, Mary is Mother of God.

History of Catholic Mariology

The history of Catholic Mariology traces theological developments and views regarding Mary from the early Church to the 21st century. Mariology is a mainly Catholic ecclesiological study within theology, which centers on the relation of Mary and the Church. Catholic Mariology is the encyclopedic area of theology concerned with Mary, the Mother of God. Theologically, it not only deals with her life, but her veneration in daily life, prayer, art, music, architecture, in modern and ancient Christianity throughout the ages.

Mariology of the saints

Throughout history Roman Catholic Mariology has been influenced by a number of saints who have attested to the central role of Mary in God's plan of salvation. The analysis of Early Church Fathers continues to be reflected in modern encyclicals. Irenaeus vigorously defended the title of "Theotokos" or Mother of God. The views of Anthony of Padua, Robert Bellarmine and others supported the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which was declared a dogma in 1850.

Mariology of the popes

The Mariology of the popes is the theological study of the influence that the popes have had on the development, formulation and transformation of the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrines and devotions relating to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

John Calvins views on Mary

John Calvin (1509–1564) was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation, and one of the most influential reformers. He was a central figure for the Reformed churches, whose theological system is sometimes called Calvinism.

Luthers Marian theology

Luther's Marian theology is derived from his views of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It was developed out of the deep Christian Marian devotion on which he was reared, and it was subsequently clarified as part of his mature Christocentric theology and piety. Lutherans hold Mary in high esteem. Martin Luther dogmatically asserted what he considered firmly established biblical doctrines like the divine motherhood of Mary while adhering to pious opinions of the Immaculate Conception and the perpetual virginity of Mary along with the caveat that all doctrine and piety should exalt and not diminish the person and work of Jesus Christ. By the end of Luther's theological development, his emphasis was always placed on Mary as merely a receiver of God's love and favor. His opposition to regarding Mary as a mediatrix of intercession or redemption was part of his greater and more extensive opposition to the belief that the merits of the saints could be added to those of Jesus Christ to save humanity.

Veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church Roman Catholic veneration of Mary

In the Catholic Church, the veneration of Mary, mother of Jesus, encompasses various Marian devotions which include prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Popes have encouraged it, while also taking steps to reform some manifestations of it. The Holy See has insisted on the importance of distinguishing "true from false devotion, and authentic doctrine from its deformations by excess or defect". There are significantly more titles, feasts, and venerative Marian practices among Roman Catholics than in other Western Christian traditions. The term hyperdulia indicates the special veneration due to Mary, greater than the ordinary dulia for other saints, but utterly unlike the latria due only to God.

Ecumenical meetings and documents on Mary

Ecumenical meetings and documents on Mary is a review of the status of Mariology in the Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, and Roman Catholic Churches, as a result of ecumenical commissions and working groups.

Mark Miravalle is a professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, specializing in Mariology. He is president of Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici, a Catholic movement promoting the concepts of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix.

Marian art in the Catholic Church

The Blessed Virgin Mary has been one of the major subjects of Western Art for centuries. Numerous pieces of Marian art in the Catholic Church covering a range of topics have been produced, from masters such as Michelangelo and Botticelli to works made by unknown peasant artisans.

Catholic Marian music

Roman Catholic Marian music shares a trait with some other forms of Christian music in adding another emotional dimension to the process of veneration and in being used in various Marian ceremonies and feasts. Marian music is now an inherent element in many aspects of the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic Mariology.

Pontifical Academy of Mary international pontifical organization tasked with promoting mariology

The Pontifical Academy of Mary is an international pontifical organization tasked with promoting mariology. The academy is one of the Pontifical academies at the Vatican in Rome. The PAMI also has the task of coordinating the other Marian academies and societies that exist worldwide and of exercising vigilance against any Marian excess or minimalism. For this purpose the Pope directed that the Academy have a council that examines the organization of congresses, and that coordinates Mariological societies and those who promote or teach mariology.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Catholic Church:

References

  1. 1 2 "Claudiana riedita un classico di Miegge su Maria", Evangelici.net, 2008-12-23, retrieved 2011-07-18
  2. ↑ Boss, Sarah Jane (2000), Empress and handmaid: on nature and gender in the cult of the Virgin Mary, Continuum International Publishing Group, p.  63, ISBN   978-0-304-70781-2
  3. 1 2 3 Grant, Robert M. (1957), "Book Reviews: Mariology: The Virgin Mary", Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 25 (1): 59–60, doi:10.1093/jaarel/XXV.1.59
  4. 1 2 Barrois, Georges A. (January 1957), "Book Reviews: The Virgin Mary", Theology Today, 13 (4): 553–554, doi:10.1177/004057365701300417
  5. 1 2 Carroll, Eamon (1956), "Book Reviews: The Virgin Mary" (PDF), Theological Studies, 17 (4): 600–601
  6. ↑ Molette, Charles (1994), La "mère du rédempteur": réflexions actuelles sur Redemptoris mater, Session de la Société Française d'Études Mariales, Mediaspaul Editions, pp.  117–122, ISBN   978-2-7122-0494-5
  7. ↑ "Reviews of books: a study of Mariology: The Virgin Mary", International Review of Mission, 45 (178): 218–219, April 1956, doi:10.1111/j.1758-6631.1956.tb00841.x, OCLC   707481053
  8. ↑ Burger, Nash K. (1956-06-24), "In the Field of Religion", The New York Times, p. BR9, retrieved 2011-06-24
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