How to systematically study the Marian Magisterium at Locus Mariologicus – user’s guide (109+ posts)

Locus Mariologicus, locusmariologicus.org, now has the largest collection in Portuguese of documents of the Marian Magisterium with the original text (Latin/Greek/Italian/Spanish/French) and a Portuguese translation. This guide post summarizes how to use the site to systematically study the Marian Magisterium of 20 centuries.

Available collections

1. Primary documents (19 posts)

Major encyclicals and constitutions with the full text:

• Ineffabilis Deus (Pius IX, 1854)
• Munificentissimus Deus (Pius XII, 1950)
• Ad Caeli Reginam (Pius XII, 1954)
• Lumen Gentium VIII (Vat II, 1964)
• Marialis Cultus (Paul VI, 1974)
• Redemptoris Mater (JP2, 1987)
• Mulieris Dignitatem (JP2, 1988)
• Rosarium Virginis Mariae (JP2, 2002)
• … and 11 more major documents

2. Doctrina Pontificia IV – Marian documents (37 posts)

PAMI/BAC 1954 collection: 388 Marian documents of the papal and conciliar magisterium from the third century to 1903, see the general index.

3. Enchiridion vaticanum (49 posts)

EDB Bologna collection: documents of Vatican II (1962-1965) and the post-conciliar magisterium from John XXIII to Francis, see the general index.

How to study systematically

Beginner

1. Begin with the CCC: Catechism of the Catholic Church – Marian Sections (nn. 484-511 and 963-975)
2. Lumen Gentium VIII: the conciliar reference point of contemporary Mariology
3. Marialis Cultus: the principles of renewed Marian devotion

Intermediate

1. The 4 Marian dogmas: Theotokos (Ephesus 431), Semper Virgo (Lateran 649), Immaculate Conception (1854), Assumption (1950)
2. Redemptoris Mater: the great Mariology of John Paul II
3. JP2’s 70 Marian catecheses: 1995-1997, see the summary post

Advanced

1. The complete Doctrina Pontificia IV: 20 centuries of Marian magisterium arranged chronologically
2. Casagrande – Enchiridion Marianum Biblicum Patristicum: patristic florilegium
3. Enchiridion Vaticanum vols. 1-32: 1962-present, with local excerpts

By thematic axes

By dogma

By recognized apparition

• General synthesis of the apparitions
• Guadalupe (1531), in Ecclesia in America
• Lourdes (1858), see Pius XII, 1957, 150 years, 2008, Benedict XVI, 2008
• Fátima (1917), see Third Secret, 2000, Affidamento JP II, 1983-1984
• Banneux (1933), see Letter of JP II, 1999
• Amsterdam (1945-1959, not recognized), see CDF Decree 1974

By devotion

• Rosary: Saint Pius V, Leo XIII, Marialis Cultus, Rosarium Virginis Mariae
• Litany of Loreto: Approval by Pius IX, 1856
• Immaculate Heart: Atto Affidamento JP II, 1983-1984
• Totus Tuus: Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

By pontiff

• Pius IX (1846-1878): definer of the Immaculate Conception
• Leo XIII (1878-1903): the pope of the Rosary
• Pius X (1903-1914)
• Benedict XV (1914-1922): Regina Pacis
• Pius XI (1922-1939)
• Pius XII (1939-1958): definer of the Assumption and of the Queenship
• John XXIII (1958-1963)
• Paul VI (1963-1978): Mater Ecclesiae, Marialis Cultus
• John Paul II (1978-2005): the most Marian pope in history
• Benedict XVI (2005-2013): a Mariology of faith and hope
• Francis (2013-): Mary close to us and Mother of the peoples

Further Locus resources

• General Mariology page
• Marian Dogmas
• Postgraduate Program in Mariology
• Catalog of Mariological Courses
• PDF library of Mariological works

Statistical total

The user who works through these 109+ posts, in their entirety or by thematic axis, will have systematically studied the Church’s Marian Magisterium across two thousand years, always with the original text and a Portuguese translation, without needing to leave locusmariologicus.org.

Further reading

Mariology | Doctrina Pontificia IV – index | Enchiridion Vaticanum – index | Post-2000 Marian Magisterium

The essential documents, in the order of the development of doctrine

From the councils to the dogmatic definitions and the post-conciliar magisterium: the path below follows the very history of doctrine. As you study, always distinguish the level of authority of each document – dogmatic constitutions, encyclicals, exhortations, and allocutions do not carry the same magisterial weight.

1. The councils

• The Council of Ephesus (431): Theotokos, the Mother of God
• Lumen Gentium, chapter VIII – full text (Latin and Portuguese)
• Mary at Vatican II: chapter VIII with commentary
• Sacrosanctum Concilium: Mary in liturgical worship
• Dei Verbum: Mary, model of listening to the Word
• The Marian references in the other conciliar documents

2. The dogmatic definitions

• Ineffabilis Deus (1854): the Immaculate Conception – full text
• Munificentissimus Deus (1950): the Assumption – full text
• Ad Caeli Reginam (1954): the Queenship of Mary

3. The post-conciliar magisterium

• Paul VI proclaims Mary “Mother of the Church” (1964)
• Signum Magnum (1967): the spiritual motherhood of Mary
• Marialis Cultus (1974): the renewal of Marian devotion
• Redemptoris Mater (1987): the Mother of the Redeemer
• Mulieris Dignitatem (1988): Mary and the dignity of women
• The Marian catecheses of John Paul II (1995-1997)
• Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002): the Rosary and the Luminous Mysteries
• The post-2000 Marian magisterium: from John Paul II to Francis

4. Indexes and official collections

• Doctrina Pontificia IV: complete index of the Marian documents
• Enchiridion Vaticanum: index of the post-conciliar magisterium
• ASS, AAS, and Mansi: the official collections of the Magisterium
• The Marian sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• The great Marian documents: an overview

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