Mariology

Mariology is the study of Mary, considered by Christians to be the mother of Jesus Christ. It encompasses the known references to Mary in the Bible, official church teachings and beliefs about Mary, and other sources that support the understanding of the role Mary plays in the Christian concept of salvation and in the lives of the faithful. While Mariology is most often associated with the Roman Catholic Church, all Christians have some form of belief about Mary.

Background

Mary is introduced in the Christian New Testament books of Matthew and Luke as the mother of Jesus. The Book of Luke provides the most narrative involving Mary, including the story of the Annunciation, when an angel told her God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. In addition, this book discusses Mary's visit to her relative, Elizabeth, who was the mother of another key figure in Jesus's ministry, John the Baptist. The birth of Jesus and all that is known from the Bible about his earliest days is also included. Matthew's Gospel adds information about the visit of the magi.

The Gospel of John does not mention Mary by name but does include references to her, including a key mention during a wedding at Cana, when "the mother of Jesus" encourages him to help the bridal couple when they run out of wine. This gospel also includes a scene at the Crucifixion of Jesus, where Jesus tells a beloved disciple, "Behold your mother," and his mother, "Behold your son." The Gospel of Mark makes several mentions of Mary during Jesus's adulthood, including her presence at his Crucifixion. The New Testament Book of Acts mentions Mary being present during Pentecost, or the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples after Jesus's death and resurrection.

Theologians believe that Mary was likely very important to the early church. She survived her son and was a living connection to the man revered and worshiped by the first Christians. Unlike the disciples, she was also an eyewitness to the birth and childhood of Jesus and served as the primary source of information about his early life. This became increasingly important to Christians as time went by.

There is scriptural evidence from biblical books written by the apostle Paul and others that early Christians were interested in the importance of the Incarnation. This is the belief that God took human form, becoming man to live among humanity. Mary, as his human mother, was the conduit for this to happen. Therefore, she is a key figure in the Incarnation. This led to the concept of Theotokos, a Greek word meaning "God-bearer." However, not all Christians accepted the idea of Mary as God-bearer. They preferred to see her as the mother of the earthly Jesus but not his godly presence. The development of different beliefs related to Mary served as the basis of Mariology.

Overview

In the first centuries after the death of Jesus, early Christians were often subjected to great persecution. As a result, they looked to the lives of those who went before them as models of how to live. Christians likely used examples from Mary's life, such as her obedience when the angel told her about God's plan and her suffering while watching her son be tortured and killed, to inform their faith and behavior.

By the fifth century, Mary's role in Christianity was specifically included in the words used as part of the liturgy of the Mass. The Theotokos debate increased until the Council of Ephesus in 431 affirmed Mary's role in the Incarnation and the validity of the title Theotokos. Christians increasingly saw Mary as someone who could intercede for them before God because of her special relationship with Jesus.

The Roman Catholic concept of Mariology is largely laid out in four specific dogmas, or beliefs. These beliefs include Mary's divine motherhood and her role as Theotokos, as proclaimed by the Council of Ephesus. Her perpetual virginity, or the belief that Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit and remained a virgin her entire life, is another Catholic dogma. Catholics also believe that Mary was born free of the original sin that all Christians are born with because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Finally, there is Mary's Assumption. This refers to the belief that she was taken bodily into heaven when her time on Earth ended. It is unclear whether she died a human death or if she was taken to heaven before dying.

Not all Christians believe in all these concepts. While there are mentions in scripture that can be cited as support for the first three dogmas, there are also some that contradict them. For instance, there are several mentions of Jesus having brothers and sisters (Mark 3:31, 6:3), which would contradict perpetual virginity. Roman Catholics hold that the terms used for siblings could refer to other relatives, such as cousins. The idea of Mary's Assumption into heaven is the result of a vision by a German mystic and nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich. It became a church dogma in 1950 after study by church officials.

Another aspect of Mariology concerns a number of miracles attributed to her and events in which apparitions of Mary appeared to various people over the years. Some of the most famous appearances include ones to Juan Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico, in 1531; to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, beginning in 1858; and to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. These three apparitions are considered accepted and approved by the Catholic Church. Other apparitions have not been accepted but are left for the faithful to decide. These apparitions, which often include admonishments for people to pray and sometimes information about future events, have become part of the study of Mariology.

In general, most Christians accept the belief that Mary was the God-bearer and that she conceived as a virgin (though she did not necessarily remain a virgin all her life). Many Christians revere Mary for her obedience and the role she played in what they see as God's plan for salvation. Mariology is also part of Christian art, music, and literature. In the twenty-first century, Mariology, which continued to hold the most relevance in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox iterations of Christianity, evolved, and academic study focused on understanding Mary within a contemporary context. Various Christian belief systems continued to debate the importance of Mary in the Christian tradition. Academics also examined Mary’s role through more modern contexts, such as feminism. 

Bibliography

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Manual for Marian Devotion. TAN Books, 2016.

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Naumann, Isabell. "Ecclesiological History of Mariology." International Marian Research Institute, University of Dayton, udayton.edu/imri/mary/e/ecclesiological-history-of-mariology.php. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

"In Summary, What Is the Importance of Mariology for the Church?" Introduction to Roman Catholicism, Catholic Faith, 19 Feb. 2016, catholicfaith.co.uk/accordion‗post/please-give-a-summary-of-the-importance-of-mariology-for-the-church. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

"Mary." BBC, 2 Aug. 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/virginmary‗1.shtml. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Miravalle, Mark, editor. Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons. Queenship Publishing, 2008.

Packer, J. I., and Tom Oden. "There's Something about Mary." Christianity Today, 1 Dec. 2002, www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/decemberweb-only/12-23-12.0.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Peters, Mark A. “Advancing Mariology —An Extended Review.” Christian Scholars Review, 15 Apr. 2018, christianscholars.com/advancing-mariology-an-extended-review. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Solorzano, Angelo. "Can Feminists Embrace the Virgin Mary?" Santa Clara University, 2 July 2024, www.scu.edu/news-and-events/feature-stories/2024/stories/can-feminists-embrace-the-virgin-mary.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.