Introduction
By the beginning of the 1960’s the resourcement that had been underway for at least 30 years had its fruition in the Second Vatican Council. John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, born 25 November, 1881; died 3 June, 1963) was pope from 1958 to  1963. Ordained a priest in  Rome in 1904, he began his long career in the Vatican diplomatic corps and was appointed (1925), with the title of archbishop, to be the apostolic visitor  to Bulgaria. Later he was named apostolic delegate to Turkey and Greece in 1935. Between 1944 and 1953 he served as nuncio to France. He was also Vatican  observer at UNESCO (1946-53). In 1953 he was made a cardinal and named patriarch  of Venice.When he was elected pope, Roncalli seemed to be a compromise candidate  because of his advanced years. Although he served as pope for five years he accomplished a lot, including the calling of the Second Vatican Council.

Vatican II brought subtle shifts and changes in Mariological considerations. For many people, it seemed that the lack of a separate document on Mary “killed” marian devotion. This was not, in fact, the case, but it was the perceived result. There was a gradual decline of more effusive marian activity. The liturgical renewal also brought about a shift - statues of Mary - particularly those of the more garish 19th century representations, vanished to be replaced by more subdued artifacts. The popularity of traditional devotions dwindled. A new generation, already influenced by the resourcement of the preceeding years was exploring the biblical and scriptural meaning of Mary. The debates of Vatican II, particularly over the role of Mary and her place in the schema of the church still resound in divisions on Mary, doctrine and devotion. However, newer theologies and theological insights has resulted in new discussion on Mary. This unit explores the documents on Mary of the Second Vatican Council, and some of the  articles on Mary which have followed.

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		Chapter VIII Lumen Gentium: Our Lady in the Church
		Mary and the Church
		Our Lady in the Shadows
		The mind of Mary in the Council (Paul VI, 1965)
		Mariology Today
		Catholic Mariology Today - The Doctrine of Vatican II
		The Revolutionary event of Vatican II - Greeley
		Mary at the Dawn of the New Millennium - Dulles
		Mary in Post Conciliar Theology - Stefan de Fiores - Probably the most comprehensive analysis of post conciliar mariology.
		Marialus Cultus - Paul VI’s encyclical on Mary: Essential reading
		Light on Our Lady - Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium -Eamon O’Carroll.
		New Zealand Bishops Statment on Mary

Further documents of the Church on Mary are to be found in the CRC website under Mariology: Access the CRC website here

Popular devotion did not die in the years following Vatican II, and if new theologies such as liberation theology and feminist theology arose, they did so with a new insight on the role of Mary. The silence  about Mary - so noticeable after Vatican II has been broken by new waves of Marian studies. Utilizing the scriptural, liturgical and ecclesial insights of the Second Vatican Council, newer writings on Mariology offer new insights into the woman of Nazareth as a woman for our time. The articles that follow are simply examples of the “new” mariological insights of the years since the council. The movement towards ecumenism has also resulted in a new view of Mary - no longer a block to unity among Christians.

		The Black Madonna
		Breaking Silence: A feminist perspective on Marian Piety
		Mary and the discovery of a new feminine identity for women - John Paul II
		Mary, Friend of God and Prophet - Elizabeth Johnson
		Good News for women - The Gospel of John
		Marian profile of ministry is basis of woman's ecclesial role - Max Thurian
		Mary as Everywoman
		Mary the Virgin Priest
		Praying with Mary
		The effects of women’s experience on their spiritualty - Sandra Schneiders
		Women in the Church since Vatican II
		No New Dogmas Please - Kallistos Ware
		Mary in the Gospels - A Question of focus
		How does your garden grow? Notes on the Mother of God
		Council’s teaching on Mary is Rich and Postive - John Paul II
		Key Principles of Liberation Theology
		The Changing face of Mary
		Tissa Balaysuria on Mary
		Mary our Mother in the order of Grace (ecumenism)
		Modern Protestants and Mary
		Mary’s Song and Ours - A sermon of Sid Burgess of the Presbyterian Church.
		The Marian Devotion of De Montfort and Ecumenism

Discussion Topics

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Any of Mary Potter's texts or articles on same.

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