mariologydogmati00pohl - Carmel Apologetics
mariologydogmati00pohl - Carmel Apologetics
mariologydogmati00pohl - Carmel Apologetics
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MARY'S FULNESS OF GRACE 31<br />
fourteenth century), is utterly untenable. Not even the<br />
shred of -an argument can be produced in its favor. St.<br />
Thomas expressly declares that Mary did not have the<br />
use of free-will while in her mother's womb but that<br />
this was the unique privilege of Christ. 23<br />
Equally untenable is the more recent assertion of Jean-<br />
jacquot 24 that the Blessed Virgin during her earthly life<br />
knew personally -as she now knows in Heaven — all<br />
those pious souls who in course of time would have<br />
recourse to her as the " Help of Christians."<br />
It is, however, perfectly consonant with her dignity as<br />
Deipara to hold that Mary possessed a deep and exten-<br />
sive supernatural knowledge in matters of faith,— so<br />
wide and profound in fact, that she deserves to be called<br />
" Seat of Wisdom." Note, however, that, as applied to<br />
her in the liturgy, this epithet does not necessarily mean<br />
anything more than that our Lady is the bearer and<br />
mother of the increate Wisdom of the Logos, and that,<br />
consequently, we are not justified, on the strength of<br />
mere a-priori deductions, in ascribing to Mary in the way-<br />
faring state an altogether singular knowledge of the divine<br />
mysteries and an infused familiarity with the wisdom<br />
of Sacred Scripture. The question she addressed to the<br />
Archangel Gabriel proves that she was unaware of<br />
the mystery of the Incarnation ; for, as " the handmaid<br />
of the Lord " she makes an humble profession of faith.<br />
That her earthly life was one of faith, is evidenced also<br />
by the prophecy of Simeon 25 and by the reply she got<br />
from her twelve-year-old Son in the Temple, and which<br />
23 Summa Theol., 3a, qu. 27, art. defended by Gerson and Muratori.<br />
3: " Non statim habuit usum li- 24 Simples Explications sur la Coberi<br />
arbitrii adhuc in ventre matris operation de la S. Vierge a VOeuvre<br />
existens; hoc enim est speciale pri- de la Redemption, Paris 1875.<br />
vilegium Christi." This view was 25 Luke II, 29 sqq.