Petrus Canisius' views on Mary

Saint Petrus Canisius (May 8, 1521 – December 21, 1597) was a Dutch Jesuit who fought against the spread of Protestantism in Germany, Austria, Bohemia (Czech Republic), and Switzerland. The restoration of Catholicism in Germany after the Reformation is attributed to his work. Petrus Canisius provided a classical defence of the whole Catholic mariology against Protestantism. In 1546, Pope Paul III sent Peter Canisius with other Jesuits to the Council of Trent, to successfully defend Catholic orthodoxy, and not to permit political compromises with Protestants, which may undermine the moral authority of the Church [Will Durant, The Reformation, New York, 1957, 928.929] Canisius published some thirty articles regarding ongoing council debates and issues. [Otto Stegmüller, Petrus Canisius, in: Regensburg, 1967 1052]

Background

After intensive trainingand practical experiences in Italy, Canisius was to become the leader of the Counter-Reformation north of the Alps. St Peter Canisius was beatified by Blessed Pius IX in the year 1864, and later canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church on May 21, 1925 by Pope Pius XI. [*"Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year" edited by Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D., New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1955, p.164] His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is currently celebrated on December 21. Until the revision of the Roman Catholic calendar of saints by Pope Paul VI in 1969, St Peter Canisius' feast day was celebrated on April 27. Traditional Roman Catholics continue to commemorate the feast of "Saint Peter Canisius, Confessor and Doctor of the Church", on April 27.

Petrus Canisius lived in the age of reformation and dedicated much of his work to the clarification of the Catholic faith in light of emerging Protestantism. In his fight with German Protestantism, he requested much more flexibility from Rome. “If you treat them right, the Germans will give you everything". Many err in matters of faith, but without arrogance. They err the German way, mostly honest, a bit simple-minded, but very open for everything Lutheran. An honest explanation of the faith would be much more effective than a polemical attacks against reformers. [Burg, Kontroverslexikon, Essen, 1903 224] He rejected Catholic attacks against Calvin and Melanchton with the words:" With words like these, we don’t cure patients, we make them incurable" [Burg 225]

Mariology of Petrus Canisius

Marian venerations

While there are many roads leading to real Jesus Christ, Marian veneration is the best way to him [Stegmüller, 1052)] Canisius tried to show practical and pragmatic rationale for Marian devotion and defended them against opposing Protestant arguments. His sermons and letters document a clear preoccupation with Marian veneration. [Stegmüller, 1052)] His lasting contribution to this “applied mariology” are his three catechisms, which he published in Latin and German, which became widespread and popular in Catholic regions. Under the heading “prayer” he explains the Ave Maria, Hail Mary, as the basis for Catholic Marian piety. [Streicher, 95,245,267 ] Less known are his Marian books, in which he published prayers and contemplative texts.

Canisius published an applied mariology for preachers, in which Mary is described in tender and warm words. [Meditaciones, 1591-1593] He actively promoted the sodalities of our Lady and the rosary associations. He is credited with adding to the hail mary the sentence

* "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners."

This sentence appeared for he first time in his catechism of 1555 [Streicher Catechismi, I, 12] It was eleven years later included in the Catechism of the Council of Trent of 1566.

Mariology of Canisius

Theologically, Canisius defended Catholic mariology, in his 1577 book, "De Maria Virgine Incomparabili et Dei Genitrice Sacrosancta Libri Quinque." The book was ordered by Pope Pius V to present a factual presentation of the Catholic Marian teachings of the bible, the early Christians, the Church Fathers and contemporary theology. Canisius explains and documents Church teachings through the ages regarding the person and character of Mary, her virtues and youth [in Book One] . He traces historical documents about the permanent virginity of Mary, and her freedom from sin. [in Book Two] He explains the dogma of “Mother of God” with numerous quotations from the fathers after the Council of Ephesus. He shows, that Church teaching has not changed. [Book Three] He answers the Sola Scriptura arguments of Protestants, by analyzing the biblical basis for mariology. [Book Four] Book five explains the Catholic view of the assumption as living faith for centuries, supported by most proment Church writers. In addition he justifies the cult of Mary within the Catholic Church.

"Petrus Canisius provided a classical defence of the whole Catholic mariology against Protestantism", judged three hundred years later, a leading Catholic theologican. [Scheeben, Handbuch der kath. Dogmatic, 1882, 478] From today’s perspective, Canisius clearly erred in some of his sources, but, because of his factual analysis of original sources, represents one of the best theological achievements in the 16th century. [Otto Stegmüller 1063]

References

* Petrus Canisius, (Ed Bourassee) De Maria Virgine Incomparabili et Dei Genitrice Sacrosancta Libri, 1577 Quinque. Paris, 1862

* Petrus Canisius, ( ed Friedrich Streicher), S P C CATECHISMI Latini et Germanici, I, Roma, Munich, 1933

* Petrus Canisius, ( ed Friedrich Streicher), Meditaciones seunatae in evangelicas lectiones, 1591.1593, (Fribourg, Switzerland, 1939,1955)

* Otto Stegmüller, Petrus Canisius, in: Marienkunde, Regensburg, 1967

ee also

History of Roman Catholic mariology
* Blessed Virgin Mary
*Mary (mother of Jesus)
*Theotokos
* Marian doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church
* Mariology (Roman Catholic)

References