The Centre for Marian Studies Research Seminar - 8th May

Theological and Philosophical Perspectives on Mary the Mother: Providing the Grammar for the Theological Notion of Person in Humanity

In our May research seminar, Dr Mary Frances McKenna (The Centre for Marian Studies) will explore theological and philosophical aspects of Mary in relation to the theological notion of person and how it is appropriately applied to humanity. Her thesis is that Mary as the Mother of God provides the grammar for person in humanity. Mary in relation with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit illustrates what person is in the human being.

The presentation will take up Joseph Ratzinger’s positive development of the notion of person – relatedness with God without reserve which is fully realised only in the person of Jesus Christ - and how he applies that notion of person to Mary. Luke’s account of Mary (Luke 1:34 – 38, 1:46 - 55, and 2:19, 51 ) and of the term mother in relation to Jesus (Luke 11:27-28) provide the Scriptural basis for the development of “the Mother” as person in relation to the personal Triune God. Two Thomistic accounts of person will be considered adding two different perspectives that offer opportunities to shape this grammar further.

The first is Gilles Emery who considers the theological notion of person from a Trinitarian perspective with concern for the simplicity of God, the Oneness of God. The second is Peter Kreeft who considers person from the position of a potential marriage of medieval philosophy and modern personalism. He argues that the actualisation and perfection of being is the actualisation and perfection of personhood, which is sanctity.

The aim of this presentation is to explore what it means for a human being to be person, to fully actualise their person. The thesis is that Mary who is Mother of God both biologically and theologically, who shows humanity the way to life, is the grammar of person in humanity.

To join the audience, please register for the free Zoom link by sending an email to Catherine O'Brien at info@marianstudies.ac.uk.

This is the eighth of a new series of online research seminars organised by the Centre for Marian Studies at St Mary's University.