The History and Theology of Marian Doctrine and Devotion (CT2230C)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit will provide a systematic investigation of the scriptural and patristic origins of Marian doctrine and devotion in the Christian tradition. It will also trace the further development of this doctrine and devotion in the course of the Church’s history, in all the various ways which it manifests itself: art, literature, popular piety and doctrinal and liturgical expression. Special attention will be given to contemporary Church teaching and current issues in theology. A particular focus of the unit will be a careful examination of the meaning of the major Marian doctrines as they are presented in Catholic theology.

Unit code: CT2230C (Approved)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Identify, contextualise and explain the meaning and significance of those biblical texts which refer to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
2.

Demonstrate the links between the scriptural references to Mary and the developing theology of the patristic period.
3.

List and expound the criteria for distinguishing theologically sound expressions of popular Marian piety from distortions.

Unit sequence

CT1000C, CT1001C, BS1001C and BS1002C or equivalent

Pedagogy

lectures, seminars/tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Boss, Sarah J., ed. Mary: The Complete Resource. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
  • Brown, Raymond E., Karl P. Donfried, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Jozef Reuman, eds. Mary in the New Testament: A Collaborative Assessment by Protestant and Roman Catholic Scholars. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1978.
  • Buby, B. Mary of Galilee. 3 vols. New York: Alba House, 1994–1996.
  • Gambero, Luigi. Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought. Translated by Thomas Buffer. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1999.
  • ———. Mary in the Middle Ages: The Blessed Virgin Mary In The Thought Of Medieval Latin Theologians. Translated by Thomas Buffer. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2005.
  • Graef, Hilda, and Thomas A. Thompson. Mary: A History of Doctrine and Devotion. Revised and updated ed. Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2009.
  • Haffner, Paul. The Mystery of Mary. Leominster: Gracewing, 2004.
  • John Paul II. Redemptoris Mater. Encyclical letter, 1987.
  • Macquarrie, John. Mary for all Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1991.
  • Paul VI. Marialis Cultus. Encyclical letter, 1974.
  • Rahner, Karl. Mary, Mother of the Lord. London: Catholic Book Club, 1963.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

2500 word essay

0 60.0
Seminar or Tutorial

1500 word seminar paper

 0 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2019-04-09 13:57:33 +1000