The Marian Profile is an original and at the same time faithful exposition of an important aspect of von Balthasar’s work. Leahy sets the stage by tracing the Marian principle from the patristic and medieval periods up to Vatican II and John Paul II’s Mulieris dignitatem. He then gathers together the intuitions and references to that principle in von Balthasar’s works.

For von Balthasar, Mary represents Christian discipleship, the perfect yes of faith, transparency to God and the vocation to love. In this book, Brendan Leahy explores von Balthasar’s vision of Mary and her relevance for the Church, since Mary and the Church are one in their fundamental vocation. In an era when John Paul II has helped us rediscover the Petrine ministry in the Church, von Balthasar brings us back to the Marian principle of faith and love without which the Petrine principle could not bear fruit. Here is a book which leads us to the heart of the mystery of the Church.

John O'Donnell, S.J.
Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, Massachussetts Leahy has succeeded to bring into relief the structure or logic of von Balthasar’s Mariology and has produced a book that contributes significantly to its understanding. Dr. David Schindler
Editor of Hans Urs von Balthasar: His Life and Work Attentive readers will be enriched not only in their ecclesiology and Mariology, but also in their trinitarian theology and Christology as well. Frederick M. Jelly, O.P.
Professor of Theology
Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland