Mary

Icon of Trinitarian Love

by Anthony J. Kelly

Book cover: Mary

Extent: 86 pages

Publisher: ATF Press

Subjects: Religious Studies

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(March 2023)

ISBN: 9781923006041

Price: $18.95

In stock

Hardback (Published)

(March 2023)

ISBN: 9781923006058

Price: $29.95

In stock

PDF (Published)

(March 2023)

ISBN: 9781923006072

Price: $18.95

The place of Mary in Christian theology has been a contested one, ever since the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century and also the advent of feminist theology in the twentieth century. Protestantism challenged much of the Mediaeval piety surrounding Mary in the West, along with her intercessory role and that of the saints more generally. Feminist thinking has questioned the portrayal of Mary as the demure and passive virgin-mother, a portrayal that places her beyond the ken of ordinary women. In all this turmoil of questioning and dispute, including effects on the ecumenical front to find common ground in the figure of Mary (ARCIC), Anthony Kelly has produced a very fine and moving series of reflections on the person and theological significance of Mary. Writing from a Roman Catholic perspective, Fr Kelly points to Mary’s role in elucidating the core doctrines of the faith: the Trinity, the church, the sacraments (particularly the Eucharist), and eschatology. He sees Mary’s role in the life of the church, from beginning to end, as pervasive. Her presence weaves through every point in the church’s existence, in its origins, its ongoing ministry and mission, and its final goal.


The place of Mary in Christian theology has been a contested one, ever since the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century and also the advent of feminist theology in the twentieth century. Protestantism challenged much of the Mediaeval piety surrounding Mary in the West, along with her intercessory role and that of the saints more generally. Feminist thinking has questioned the portrayal of Mary as the demure and passive virgin-mother, a portrayal that places her beyond the ken of ordinary women. In all this turmoil of questioning and dispute, including effects on the ecumenical front to find common ground in the figure of Mary (ARCIC), Anthony Kelly has produced a very fine and moving series of reflections on the person and theological significance of Mary. Writing from a Roman Catholic perspective, Fr Kelly points to Mary’s role in elucidating the core doctrines of the faith: the Trinity, the church, the sacraments (particularly the Eucharist), and eschatology. He sees Mary’s role in the life of the church, from beginning to end, as pervasive. Her presence weaves through every point in the church’s existence, in its origins, its ongoing ministry and mission, and its final goal.

  • By (author) Anthony J. Kelly