A Bride Adorned

Even after Vatican II, the place of Mary in ecclesiology is all too often presented as an appendix, if at all, rather than as the integral, organic—even fundamental—part, such that Hans Us von Balthasar and Joseph Ratzinger fittingly call her 'the Church at the Source.' Still more striking is the presentation of Mary that we find here: as so integrally united to the Church that they share a relationship that is best presented as a perichoresis. In support of this thesis, Fr. John Nepil masterfully exposits the Marian-ecclesiological theology of Matthias Scheeben, but also that of Charles Journet, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Louis Bouyer, and Leo Scheffczyk. To exposit this theme in the corpus of any one of these prolific authors would be noteworthy. To do so in all of them, in view of demonstrating their general accord—even harmony—despite their widely differing approaches, is nothing less than remarkable. Fr. Nepil convincingly draws us to conclude that the Church must be studied in Mary and Mary in the Church. And Fr. Nepil must be studied to show us the way!" - Michele Schumacher, University of Fribourg

"Nepil wants us to understand that Lumen Gentium's dictum that Mary is the prototype of the Church proposes a vast but essential ecclesiological program. Nothing could be more pastorally important in an age hostile to the virginity and indifferent to the maternity whose exemplar is to be found in Mary." - Guy Mansini, O.S.B., Ave Maria University

"In this doctrinally engaging and spiritually enriching book, Fr. John Nepil explores 'the deep and mysterious rapport' of Mary and the Church and shows why the rediscovery of this rapport is essential to meeting the ecclesial challenges of our times. Keenly aware of the 'bitter fruit of the Church's lost relationship to Mary,' Nepil deftly brings together profound and illuminating insights from five master theologians (Scheeben, Journet, von Balthasar, Bouyer, and Scheffczyk), as he draws from their work implications aimed at an authentic reinvigoration of the Church today. Highly recommended." - Margaret M. Turek, St. Patrick's Seminary and University