Pope Benedict XIV and the bull Gloriosae Dominae (1748) – Mary as Mediator of All Graces (Pontifical Doctrine IV, nos. 209-220)

**St. Benedict XIV (1740-1758)** is the erudite pope of the 18th century, canonist, liturgist, and mariologist. His Golden Bull *Gloriosae Dominae* (September 27, 1748) is one of the most comprehensive Marian documents from papal magistery prior to Pius IX, covering eleven points in *Doctrina Pontificia IV* (nn. 210-220).**Collection:** *Doctrina Pontificia IV: Marian Documents, nn. 209-220***Pope:** St. Benedict XIV (1740-1758)**Documents:** *Nuper ad Nos* (1743) | *Gloriosae Dominae* (1748)**Theme:** Systematic Marian doctrine, mediation, Marian devotions## n. 209, Constitution “Nuper ad Nos” (March 16, 1743) This Constitution addresses the issue of Marian devotions in Eastern Churches united with Rome (Uniate Churches). St. Benedict XIV asserts that Eastern Churches possess their own rich tradition of Marian devotion, venerating Mary as *Theotokos*, celebrating Byzantine Marian liturgy, and that this heritage should be preserved rather than Latinized.## nn. 210-220, Bull “Gloriosae Dominae” (September 27, 1748) *Gloriosae Dominae* is St. Benedict XIV’s Marian summa. In its eleven points in *Doctrina Pontificia IV*, it elaborates on:– **Mary’s Title:** *”Gloriosa Domina”* (The Glorious Lady), Queen of the Universe – **Mediation of Mary:** St. Benedict XIV uses the expression *”mediatrix omnium gratiarum”* (Mediator of all graces), a title that would become controversial in the 19th and 20th centuries but here bears the express authority of the Pope. – **Assumption of Mary:** The text affirms that Mary was assumed bodily and spiritually into Heaven, as *”pia credenza”* (pious belief) of the Church, two centuries before Pius XII defined it as dogma. – **Mary’s Royalty:** Mary reigns with Christ in Heaven over all creation. – **Universal Intercession:** All graces pass through Mary’s hands.> *”Illud constans et persuasum habemus, omnia divinae gratiae munera, omnia Dei cum hominibus beneficia, omnes virtutes, quae christianam uitam illustrant, cuiuslibet generis indulgentias, per manus Mariae esse dispensanda, ut per eam distribuantur”* > > We have firm and certain knowledge that all the gifts of divine grace, all the benefits of God for men, all virtues that illumine Christian life, every kind of indulgences, are to be dispensed through Mary’s hands so that they may be distributed by her.## Theological Significance *Gloriosae Dominae* stands as the pinnacle of Marian pontifical doctrine prior to Pius IX. St. Benedict XIV, the most erudite of modern popes, asserts with papal authority the universal mediation of Mary—a doctrine never defined as dogma by Ecumenical Councils (Vatican II chose not to define it), but repeatedly repeated in ordinary magisterium by the pontificate. This Bull serves as a central reference for those studying the history of the title *”Mediator of all graces”*.**Further Reading:** Explore *Mariologia*, *Munificentissimus Deus* (Assumption), *Ad Caeli Reginam* (Royalty), and *Post-Graduate Marianology*.