Is a Theological Synthesis Still Possible? The Paradigm of Objective Mariology

As a "doctrinal synthesis of the Christian faith" (St. John Paul II), the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God could serve as a focal point that brings together various theological concepts and approaches pertaining to salvation history. For that to happen, however, it is necessary to delve into and discover the richness of Mariology. Often regarded as a secondary discipline, as a context for other disciplines or even as a source of difficulties in ecumenical dialogue, Mariology nowadays needs a revival of its own. The call for constructing an "objective Mariology" presumes that the autonomy of theology as an academic discipline will be preserved and that theological reflection on the Virgin Mary will be objectivized in terms of both form and content. To meet these demands, one must strive to respect the supernatural purpose and sources of theology as such, and strengthen and develop biblical Mariology as well as the reflection of the Church Fathers. Furthermore, there is a need to draw from the rich legacy of the Franciscan school when reflecting on the unity of God's plan of creation and Redemption in His eternal reasons. Finally, one must not accept a departure from the "hermeneutic of continuity" in the Catholic doctrine on the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Immaculate and Assumed. The article sets out to describe the essence of the above assumptions and proposes specific conditions that would foster the development of an "objective Mariology". In that respect, it is important to establish the First Person of the Holy Trinity as the starting point for any reflection on the plan of salvation-of which the Immaculate Conception is the ultimate origin and ultimate goal

Autonomy · Doctrine · Epistemology · Faith · Political science · Sociology · Theology · Catholicism and Religious Studies · History · Law · Medieval Philosophy and Theology · Philosophy · Theology and Canon Law Studies

• Mariologia Ojców a współczesna refleksja mariologiczna. Uwagi metodologiczne

  Open Access•Janusz Królikowski•Vox Patrum•2005

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