•  
  •  
 

First Page

113

Last Page

138

Abstract

The shortest way to introduce Leo Scheffczyk (1920–2005) to an American theological audience is probably to state that he is “the European Avery Dulles.” Such a generalization is incorrect and yet contains a kernel of truth. At the same consistory in 2001, both master theologians were created cardinals by St. John Paul II. It is also most indicative of their contributions to theology that this date coincided with the 200th birthday of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–90), who informed their thinking in central ways. Incidentally, this was also Scheffczyk’s eighty-first birthday. In addition, both were prolific writers. Scheffczyk’s motto as cardinal indicates the breadth of his theological vision: “Evangelizare investigabiles divitias Christi” (Eph 3:8). Until his death, Scheffczyk had authored no less than 1,450 titles. Of these, more than 200 are devoted to Marian topics. It is important and beneficial for Mariologists the world over to engage this theologian, as he is considered the post-conciliar “Nestor of German-language Mariology.” During the post-conciliar “Marian ice-age”—thus the great precursor of ecumenical dialogue Cardinal Lorenz Jaeger (1892–1975)—Scheffczyk was a stalwart of Marian theology and spirituality.

Comments

Copyright © 2014, Mariological Society of America

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.