Introduction: Mariology and Its Place in Dogmatic Theology
Mariology treats the Blessed Virgin Mary in her relation to the Incarnation and Redemption. All her prerogatives flow from her Divine Motherhood, which is therefore the organizing center of the treatise. Part I establishes the Divine Motherhood itself and its objective dignity and attached graces. Part II examines Mary's special prerogatives: the negative prerogatives (Immaculate Conception, sinlessness, perpetual virginity, bodily Assumption) and the positive prerogatives (secondary mediatorship and the cult of hyperdulia). The Appendix treats the related dogmas of the veneration of saints, relics, and images.
Introduction
INTRODUCTION Mariology is that part of Dogmatic Theology which treats of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Divine Redeemer. Mariology is closely related to both Christology 1 and Soteriology.2 Mary is truly Deipara because Christ is truly Godman. As His mother she is the mother of our Redeemer, and thus intimately bound up with the atonement. The chief prerogative of the Blessed Virgin is her divine motherhood. From it flow all her other prerogatives. Hence Mariology naturally falls into two main divisions: (i) The divine motherhood of Mary considered as the source of all her prerogatives, and (2) These prerogatives considered in themselves. 1 Pohle-Preuss, Christology. A 2 Pohle-Preuss, Soteriology, A Dogmatic Treatise on the Incarna- Dogmatic Treatise on the Redemption, 2nd ed., St, Louis 1916. tion, 2nd ed., St. Louis 1916. 2 /