Abstract

Matthias Föhrweiser:
Against Alienation - The Image of Mary in Joseph Ratzinger’s Marian Sermons
(FKTh 2025-3, p. 193–207)

St Therese of the Child Jesus points the way for priestly preaching about Mary to help the faithful find a way to make the mystery of Mary fruitful for their own lives. In his Marian sermons, Joseph Ratzinger kept to this vision of the saint from Lisieux. Thus, Mary is the unique Queen of Heaven, but on the other hand he portrays her as a “sister in faith” who is very approachable and worthy of imitation. For Joseph Ratzinger, Mary is in everything the encouraging sign that should be our help and “star of hope” on our personal journey of faith towards God. Mary accompanies us motherly on this path and wants to help us to a life that breathes freedom and redemption in Christ.