Vatican II – Marian References in the Remaining Documents: christus dominus, AA, AG, OT, PC, PO
Beyond the four great Marian documents of Vatican II that already have their own posts (LG, SC, DV, GS), six other documents of the Council contain significant Marian references that enrich conciliar Mariology in its pastoral, missionary, apostolic, and formative dimensions.
| Council | Vatican II (1962-1965) |
| Documents Analyzed | Christus Dominus | Apostolicam Actuositatem | Ad Gentes | Optatam Totius | Perfectae Caritatis | Presbyterorum Ordinis |
| Topic | Mary in the pastoral, missionary, apostolic, and formative dimensions |
Christus dominus n. 12, Mary and the Bishops
The Decree on the pastoral ministry of Bishops contains a Marian reference in the chapter on the threefold episcopal munus:
«Episcopi… Beatissimam Virginem Mariam, in qua eorum christianum recte gerere et veram Christi imaginem ostendere debent, sequi debent ut modello et magistra»
Bishops must follow the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, in whom they must govern rightly and show the true image of Christ, as model and teacher. (CD 12)
Mary is proposed as a model for bishops in the exercise of their threefold munus (to teach, to sanctify, to govern). This perspective is original within the conciliar magisterium.
Apostolicam actuositatem n. 4, Mary among the Lay Apostles
The Decree on the apostolate of the laity ends with an extensive Marian section that is in dialogue with Christifideles Laici:
«Maria Virgo, regina apostolorum, pio cordis affectu apostolatum laicorum tueatur, eumque pluribus muneribus dignos efficiat, ut sicut ipsa cum apostolis perdita perfecit, ita nunc ipsa cum laicis christianis conveniat in Cenaculo, descendens Spiritus Sanctus»
May the Virgin Mary, Queen of the apostles, with the devout affection of her heart protect the apostolate of the laity, and make it worthy of many honors, so that, just as she with the apostles completed the work, now she herself may gather with the Christian laity in the Upper Room, as the Holy Spirit descends. (AA 4)
Ad gentes n. 42, Mary in the Missions
The Decree on the missionary activity of the Church contains a Marian reference in its concluding chapter:
«Patres synodales una cum omnibus episcopis fratres in fide, qui ad summum coronam intercessionis pro mundi salutem… ad Beatam Mariam Virginem confugiamus, Reginam apostolorum, ad missiones omnes orbi terrarum tutelandas et fomentandas»
The conciliar Fathers together with all the Bishops, brothers in the faith, who at the summit of intercession for the salvation of the world have recourse to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the apostles, to protect and foster all the missions of the whole earth. (AG 42)
Mary as Queen of missionaries and patroness of all the missionary activity of the Church: an ancient tradition reaffirmed by Vatican II.
Optatam totius n. 8, Mary in Priestly Formation
The Decree on priestly formation contains the text of Vatican II that had the greatest influence on seminaries and on the Marian formation of future priests:
«Magna fiducia ad Beatissimam Virginem Mariam, Matrem boni consilii, sacerdotum vitae spiritualis confiderent, sequentes patres antiqui qui ipsis huius singularis matris inspectu duxerunt»
Let them entrust with great confidence to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of good counsel, the spiritual life of priests, following the ancient Fathers who conducted themselves under the gaze of this singular mother. (OT 8)
This passage was expanded in Pastores Dabo Vobis (1992): twenty-seven years later, John Paul II developed what the Council here merely hinted at.
Perfectae caritatis n. 25, Mary in the Religious Life
The Decree on the renewal of religious life ends with a Marian section that grounds the tradition of the Marian religious orders:
«Religiosi viri ac mulieres ad Beatissimam Virginem confugiunt, Matrem Christi et Matrem Ecclesiae, ut ipsa eorum sit dux, exemplum et adiutrix in via consecrationis perfectae caritatis»
Religious men and women have recourse to the Most Blessed Virgin, Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church, so that she may be their guide, example, and help on the path of the consecration of perfect charity. (PC 25)
Presbyterorum ordinis n. 18, Mary among Priests
The Decree on the ministry and life of priests ends with a Marian section that is the biblical and traditional grounding of the Marian love of priests:
«Beatissimam Mariam Virginem, Matrem Christi sacerdotis aeterni, Reginam apostolorum, implorent presbyteri, et ipsius cultus tener atque filialiter colatur»
Let priests invoke the protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ the Eternal Priest, Queen of the apostles, and cultivate devotion to her with tenderness and filial piety. (PO 18)
Synthesis: The Pastoral Mariology of Vatican II
Considered together with the four great Marian documents of the Council, these six documents complete conciliar Mariology, showing that Mary was not treated only in Lumen Gentium chap. VIII as a dogmatic question, but as a living pastoral presence in every dimension of the life of the Church: from bishops to the laity, from missionaries to religious, from priests to seminaries.
Further reading
Lumen Gentium chap. VIII | Sacrosanctum Concilium | Dei Verbum | Gaudium et Spes | Pastores Dabo Vobis
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