The Divine Motherhood

Abbot Vonier’s famous study of the Blessed Virgin’s divine motherhood is both a deep theological catechesis and a profound call to Catholic devotion. Vonier begins with a close reading of the revelation of divine motherhood in the gospels, contained especially in Luke’s accounts of the Annunciation, Visitation, and Presentation. He then moves to a theological reflection on God’s unlimited power to impart his glory to creation, even to the point of elevating Mary, a particular creature, to the status of a universal good, the vastest, the most efficient, the most universal supernatural power in heaven and on earth, outside the Three Divine Persons.

He writes, Catholic theological thought … starts with the assumption that it is God’s wonderful purpose to make the things He creates as great as possible, to make very great things indeed. … God is wonderful not only in Himself, He is wonderful in His creatures.