Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 96 No. 2, 2026.
Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.96.2.1
The Virgin Mary as a Figure of Hope in the Homiletic Legacy of Cardinal Franjo Kuharić
Daniel Patafta
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu Katolički bogoslovni fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The paper explores the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a central figure of Christian hope within the homiletic legacy of Cardinal Franjo Kuharić. The author aims to examine how Cardinal Kuharić interpreted Marian dogmas and biblical narratives amidst specific historical challenges: the communist period, the Croatian War of Independence (Homeland War), and the post-war reconstruction. The hypothesis posits that Kuharić’s Mariology was not merely an abstract theological reflection or a form of popular piety, but rather a dynamic system of »existential optimism« that served as an ethical and spiritual compass for the people. The study analyses key biblical types of Mary (at the Annunciation, at the foot of the Cross, and in the Upper Room) along with her eschatological role through the mystery of the Assumption. Ultimately, the paper establishes that Kuharić’s Marian discourse, deeply rooted in the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and papal theology, has successfully mediated between the universal message of the Church and the concrete destiny of a nation, promoting Mary as a guarantee of God’s faithfulness and the freedom of the human person.
Ključne riječi
Franjo Kuharić; Mary; hope; homiletics; Second Vatican Council; communism; Croatian War of Independence; eschatology
Hrčak ID:
350570
URI
Datum izdavanja:
7.9.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *