The Virgin of Guadalupe
Theological Reflections of an Anglo-Lutheran Liturgist
Published on 28. October 2002
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-0-7425-2284-8 (ISBN)
Description
The appearance of the Virgin Mary on a hill in Guadalupe, Mexico in 1531 is perhaps the central tradition in Latino Catholicism. The vision, allegedly seen by recent convert Juan Diego, signalled the rise of Catholicism in the New World at a time when Protestantism was spreading throughout the old world. So what could a male, anglo protestant liturgist possibly have to say on the subject?
In The Virgin of Guadalupe, Lutheran minister Maxwell Johnson recognizes that this tradition is not only important to Latin American Catholics, but to all Latin American Christians. Acknowledging the significance (if not, necessarily, the historical accuracy) of the appearance of the Virgin is not simply a Roman Catholic need by a necessity for all Christian churches among whom the Hispanic presence is growing. This is shown by the increased commemoration of Juan Diego on December 9, or of the Virgin of Guadalupe herself on December 12, on Protestant calendars. This increased recognition among Protestants coincides with the Pope's canonization of Saint Juan Diego in the summer of 2002.
In step with this movement, Johnson considers the Virgin of Guadalupe from a Lutheran perspective and looks at ways in which she might be received into the evangelical or Protestant tradition.
In The Virgin of Guadalupe, Lutheran minister Maxwell Johnson recognizes that this tradition is not only important to Latin American Catholics, but to all Latin American Christians. Acknowledging the significance (if not, necessarily, the historical accuracy) of the appearance of the Virgin is not simply a Roman Catholic need by a necessity for all Christian churches among whom the Hispanic presence is growing. This is shown by the increased commemoration of Juan Diego on December 9, or of the Virgin of Guadalupe herself on December 12, on Protestant calendars. This increased recognition among Protestants coincides with the Pope's canonization of Saint Juan Diego in the summer of 2002.
In step with this movement, Johnson considers the Virgin of Guadalupe from a Lutheran perspective and looks at ways in which she might be received into the evangelical or Protestant tradition.
Reviews / Votes
This book brings a neglected aspect of ecumenical dialogue into proper relief, and suggests to us that our diverse pieties may offer a common ground which can serve to diminish familiar denominational barriers. This work gives ecumenically-minded Christians an important complement to the work of the official dialogues. -- Louis Weil This is a significant contribution to theology and to Marian literature. Stafford Poole?s erudite objections to the apparitions to Juan Diego are historical. As an historian Maxwell Johnson has faced them down, claiming neither too much, nor too little.To have a liturgical scholar of Johnson?s stature reflecting theologically on popular piety is encouraging. Johnson's report of the liturgical celebration in some Protestant churches of the appearance of Mary to Juan Diego is astonishing. Obviously Our Lady of Guadalupe has been able to effect what our Lady of Lourdes could not... -- Killian McDonnell, OSB, St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota A consistently fascinating and surprising exploration-a model of ecumenical and cultural bridge-building. Christians of all stripes-Catholics and Protestants-will profit from this sympathetic study. -- Michael Root, Edward C. Fendt Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Lutheran Seminary This is one of the best studies on this topic by a Lutheran author whose understanding of the subject challenges Roman Catholics as well as Protestants to engage in a thoughtful theological conversation about its significance in establishing a promising ground for an ecumenical perspective aimed at the formation of "a true multicultural, ethnically and racially diverse, and inclusive Christianity in the United States in which the gifts of "the other" are affirmed and valued." This examination of the topic will surely become a classic text in our context and for our generation in our effort to understand the relationship between Theology and culture. -- Jose D. Rodriguez, Lutheran School of Theology Recommended. * Choice Reviews * Max Johnson, a noted Lutheran liturgical scholar, brings a fresh perspective and a discerning eye to this study of Our Lady ofGuadalupe, the maternal protector of all Christians of the Americas. A valuable and original scholarly contribution to a much revered figure. -- Lawrence S. Cunningham, John A. O'Brien Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame This is a significant contribution to theology and to Marian literature. Stafford Poole's erudite objections to the apparitions to Juan
Diego are historical. As an historian Maxwell Johnson has faced them down, claiming neither too much, nor too little. To have a liturgical scholar of Johnson's stature reflecting theologically on popular piety is encouraging. Johnson's report of the liturgical celebration in some Protestant churches of the appearance of Mary to Juan Diego is astonishing. Obviously Our Lady of Guadalupe has been able to effect what our Lady of Lourdes could not. -- Killian McDonnell, OSB, St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota Johnson's book shines as a highly significant contribution to the literature on Guadalupe and on the ecumenical movement as a whole. * Catholic Library World *
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Product notice
With printed dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
504 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7425-2284-8 (9780742522848)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Maxwell E. Johnson, an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is professor of Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame. A frequent contributor to scholarly journals, he is also author of Images of Baptism (2001), and co-author of The Apostolic Tradition: A Commentary (2002).
Content
Chapter 1 Introduction: An Apologia
Chapter 2 The Apparition Narrative
Chapter 3 Origins and Development of the Guadalupan Narratives and Image
Chapter 4 Modern Roman Catholic Theological Interpretations of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Chapter 5 Celebrations of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Chapter 6 The Virgin of Guadalupe in Ecumenical Perspective
Chapter 7 Conclusion
Chapter 2 The Apparition Narrative
Chapter 3 Origins and Development of the Guadalupan Narratives and Image
Chapter 4 Modern Roman Catholic Theological Interpretations of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Chapter 5 Celebrations of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Chapter 6 The Virgin of Guadalupe in Ecumenical Perspective
Chapter 7 Conclusion