Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 75 No. 1, 2005.
Review article
Mary's Personal and Original Holiness. Dogma on the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Goran Dabić
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This article investigates the historical overview and origin of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The author pays particularly attention to three theological sources: the Church Fathers, Scholastic theologians and the Magisterium. The treatise begins with Mary's holiness, as understood and interpreted by the Eastern and Western Church fathers in the period between the third and seventh centuries. The next period, the Middle Ages, clearly shows the understanding of the Mary's Immaculate Conception by Scholastic theologians. Finally, evidence provided by the Magisterium is treated, with special attention given to the bull of Pope Pius IX »Ineffabilis Deus« (1854.) which proclaims the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Since this dogma is not formally confirmed in the Holy Scriptures, it remains understandable why there exist very contradictory thoughts amongst the Church Fathers and the great Scholastic theologians on Mary's Immaculate Conception. Another important reason for this patristic and theological dispute is the difficulty in reconciling the universality of the economy of salvation, i.e. Christ's redemptive work of salvation in dicing for the sins of Adam's offspring; and Mary's exemption from every blemish of original sin while accepting that the term »privilege' is not a sufficient basis for the justification of the dogmatic formulation. It is important to point out that the origin of this dogma has been greatly assisted by the liturgical solemnity of Mary's conception celebrated since the seventh century. The other contribution to the dogma has been the supernatural sensus fidei of the People of God, i.e. the firm and stable faith that consolidates the Magisterium and is codified and presented as a truth, while inspiring the People of God by the Holy Spirit, and therefore, helping them to find unity of expression in overcoming many theological divisions and uncertainties.
Keywords
Mary's personal and original holiness; blemish of original sin; privilege; redemptio praeservativa; dogma on the Immaculate Conception; sensus fidei
Hrčak ID:
24687
URI
Publication date:
7.9.2005.
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