The Marian Council of Chalcedon
by Fr. Peter Damien Fehlner, FI
Extremes have a way of producing, or at least occasioning the appearance of their direct opposites. Indeed, even before the appearance of Nestorius on the ecclesial scene and the condemnation of his heresy, trends which would lead to the promotion of the exactly contrary and equally false view of the hypostatic union and role of Mary in bringing it to pass, were already active.
Nestorius naturalized or
minimized the Incarnation by
affirming two natures and two
persons in Christ. Sounded logical:
two natures begotten, one
from eternity of the Father, the
other of Mary in time. In Christ,
therefore, there were two persons,
united to form one moral
person. Best of all, the theory’s
easy to accept; it doesn’t require
the obedience of faith to accept
intellectually, nor the witness of
faith before scoffers as does the
miraculous, the strictly supernatural.
A moment’s reflection,
however, should tell us that a
merely natural religious theory
promising salvation cannot be
true, and that, in the end, all
heresy concerning the Incarnation
and divine Maternity is
simply a rationalization of an
unwillingness to stand with
Mary at the foot of the Cross
and by the altar. ... Continue reading
Divine Maternity in the Council of Ephesus
by Fr. Peter Damien Fehlner, FI
he history of the Church teaches us something fundamental about Mariology: Mary’s relation to Christ in virtue of the mystery of the Incarnation links them inseparably. There has never been, in fact, an important heresy concerning the heart of the mystery of Christ, the Incarnation, which has not also involved some grave error in regard to His Mother Mary.
Many councils, ecumenical
and local, have dealt with
articles of faith concerning the
Incarnation and Redemption.
Two, however, are rightly regarded
as having exceptional importance
for 1) a correct theological
and practical understanding
of that central mystery of
faith, Jesus, and 2) for a correct
answer to the question: who is
the Son of Man? These two are
the Councils of Ephesus in 431,
and Chalcedon in 451... Continue reading
Nativity Story: A Catholic Review
The Nativity Story Not on Par with The Passion of Christ
by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger, FI
On November 27th of 2006, I attended a prescreening
of New Line Cinema's The Nativity Story, after having read and
participated in several blog discussions concerning the Virgin Birth.
Going into the theater, my expectations were low, due to the amount of
confusion expressed by Catholics who were discussing a depiction of
Mary in the throes of the pain of childbirth. In all fairness, however,
I have to report that I found the movie, in general, to be a pious and
reverential presentation of the Christmas mystery, albeit one from a
clearly Protestant tradition. But for that reason, not only does the
movie get the Virgin Birth wrong, it thoroughly Protestantizes its
portrayal of Our Lady. ... Continue reading
The Ardent Love of St. Francis for Mary
by Father Leone M. Nobili, FI
Rivers of ink have been spilled over St. Francis. And yet it would not be right to begin this new series of articles about the bond between the Mother of God and the Saints with anyone other than this especially beloved son of Hers. Indeed, if
St. Francis is the closest to Jesus’ Heart, as Our Lord Himself revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, he is surely also the closest to Hers, since Mary’s
Heart is so perfectly united to that of Christ.... Continue reading
Mary - The Secret and Path to Authentic Joy
by Fr. Maximilian M. Dean, FI
