1.

First, through Mary the revelation of God in Jesus

MARIOLOGY Christ is God made tangible, concrete, accessible to
our senses.
2. Second, as the human collaborator of the Holy Spirit
Course Description in the Incarnation, Mary helps us to get a sense of
God's action and presence in our world.
This course is an overview and simplified theological study of
Consequently, in perfectly welcoming the
the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the Blessed
revelation of God in Jesus Christ, Mary also
Virgin Mary. Its central focus is on Mary in Scripture and
performed her concretizing function as she
teachings of the Magisterium. This will include also Marian
became the perfect example of the human
Dogmas, Marian Devotions and Mary in the life of the
creature's response to this revelation.
Church. This course provides the students with a helpful
orientation of the cult of Mary in the Catholic Church. DIVINE REVELATION looks for a response, hopes for a
response from us. In Jesus Christ God is reaching out to us,
THEOLOGY expecting a positive reply from us. "I, the Lord, your God,
- It is an attempt to explain in a brief and concise teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you
language of what believe to be divine revelation in should go." (Isa. 48:17) The knowledge imparted to us by
our human experience, in the history of Israel, words theology or Mariology is not an end in itself.
of the prophets, and ultimately in Jesus Christ, the Ultimately, we study Mary not in order to accumulate
Son of God. knowledge, but because, knowing her leads us to loving her.
- Theology is the systematic study of God in the light That was Blessed Chaminade's experience. He invited the
of reason and Revelation. Marianists not only to know Mary, but also to love her, to
- Since the Church firmly believes that Mary is the serve her.
Mother of God, which means that Mary is the Mother
of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our God and Saviour, and THE TWO MARIAN EXTREMES (TO BE
therefore it is necessary to include Mary in the study AVOIDED)
of our faith and salvation. Mariology seeks to
emphasize the relationship of Mary and the divinity The first extreme is what we call the extreme of MARIAN
of Christ. EXCESS. This means to place the Blessed Virgin on the level
of the divine, to ascribe to Mary a divine nature that would
MARIOLOGY grant her equality with God Himself.
- It is the systematic study of the person of Mary and The second extreme regarding the person and role of the
her role in salvation history. (O’Collins and Farrugia: Blessed Virgin is what we can call MARIAN DEFECT. This
A Concise Dictionary of Theology) means to minimize the role of the Blessed Virgin. This would
- In the Catholic perspective, Mary has a precise place be to ascribe to Mary the role of being only a "good disciple,"
in the plan of salvation and a special place within a "sister in the Lord," a mere "physical channel of Jesus," but
tradition and devotion. She is seen as having a nothing beyond these.
singular dignity, and receives a higher level of
veneration than all other saints. The four dogmas of Examples of Mary's role as intercessor and Spiritual Mother
Perpetual Virginity, Mother of God, Immaculate are clear in Scripture in such places as John 2:1 at the wedding
Conception and Assumption form the basis of of Cana, where Mary intercedes for the first miracle of Jesus;
Mariology. as well as in John 19:26, where at the foot of the Cross Mary
is given the role of Spiritual Mother of John, the beloved
REASONS FOR STUDYING MARIOLOGY disciple, and all later disciples of the Lord.

As a son to his mother, he is replaced by a disciple, and as a THE PROPER BALANCE OF MARIAN
master to his disciple, he is replaced by a mother. Then the DEVOTION:
disciple welcomes her. In Greek, this same verb is otherwise
used by JOHN ONLY to describe how the people welcomed It [the Council] strongly urges theologians and preachers of
Jesus and his teaching. the word of God to be careful to refrain as much from all false
exaggeration as from too summary an attitude in considering
We study Mary because there is no better example that the special dignity of the Mother of God. Following (1)The
could help us to understand what it means to respond to study of Sacred Scripture, (2)The Fathers, (3)The doctors
God’s revelation in Jesus Christ. We study her because she and liturgy of the Church, and (4)Under the guidance of
is both mother and first disciple of her son, because as such the Church's magisterium, (5)Let them rightly illustrate
she is the concrete and complete example. the duties and privileges of the Blessed Virgin which always
refer to Christ, the source of all truth, sanctity, and devotion
As JOSEPH RATZINGER once wrote, what is characteristic
(Lumen Gentium, No. 67)
of Mary is her concretizing function. She performs this
function in a twofold manner. The safeguards from these two Marian extremes

The MAGISTERIUM is that teaching authority that Our

Lord has granted to His apostles and their successors, who,
guided by the Holy Spirit, have the crucial responsibility to given uniquely to God, it will always be superior and higher
safeguard, interpret and serve Divine Revelation. And this is than devotion given to all other saints and angels.
the revelation of God as contained in BOTH SACRED
TRADITION and SACRED SCRIPTURE. ORTHOPRAXIS AND ORTHODOXY

Let us return to the words of the Second Vatican Council and "Orthopraxis" is a Greek word which means the right
see how God's full Word is revealed to us: practice, or correct devotion.

“In order that the full and living Gospel might always be "ORTHODOXY" means the right or correct doctrine. Now
preserved in the Church the apostles left bishops as their when we apply this to mariology, devotion to Mary will be
successors. They gave them "their own position of teaching authentic only when it is based on authentic doctrine that
authority." This sacred Tradition, then, and the sacred comes from the Word of God entrusted to the Church. Marian
Scripture of both Testaments, are like a mirror, in which the devotion then will be authentic and, as such, an instrument of
Church, during its pilgrim journey here on earth, contemplates grace and ultimate union with Jesus Christ, only when it
God. Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down avoids both Marian excess and Marian defect. And to avoid
in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. And Tradition extremes in Marian devotion, we must build our veneration of
transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been Mary soundly on authentic doctrine about Mary. This we
entrusted to the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of receive from the Tradition and Scripture, as safeguarded by
truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it the Magisterium. The truth of Christ and His Church is the
abroad by their preaching. Thus it comes about that the only legitimate foundation for a balanced and legitimate
Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths devotion to the Mother of Jesus.
from the holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scripture and In short, we can say that true devotion to Mary is based on the
Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of true doctrine about Mary.
devotion and reverence.” (Dei Verbum, Nos. 7, 9).

ST. PAUL says: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the
traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our Sub Tuum Praesidium ("Under Your Protection"):
epistles.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14)
We fly to your patronage,
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORSHIP AND
O Holy Mother of God,
VENERATION
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
ADORATION, which is known as latria in classical
theology, is the worship and homage that is rightly offered to but deliver us from all danger,
God alone. It is the acknowledgement of excellence and
perfection of an uncreated, divine person. It is the worship of O ever glorious and blessed Virgin.
the Creator that God alone deserves. Amen.
VENERATION, known as dulia in classical theology, is the
honor due to the excellence of a created person. This refers to
the excellence exhibited by the created being who likewise
deserves recognition and honor.

Adoration to Mary has never been and will never be part of

authentic Catholic doctrine and devotional life.

[Under the category of veneration we see the honor and

reverence that the saints rightly receive. Why?

We honor and venerate the saints because the saints

manifested a true excellence in the pursuit and the
attainment of Christian holiness, and in light of this
excellence, Our Lord grants the saints in Heaven an ability to
intercede for those on earth who are in the process of pursuing
holiness. This is a basic principle of the mystical body of
Christ and the communion of saints.

It is … hyperdulia, that we find the proper devotion ascribed

to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Hyperdulia or special veneration of Mary remains

completely different and inferior to adoration that is due to
God alone. Devotion to Mary is never to rival in nature or in
degree the adoration proper only to God. While veneration of
the Blessed Virgin will always be inferior to the adoration