The Second Vatican Council’s Doctrine on Mary and St. Pope John Paul II’s Interpretation of It

Abstract

This article traces the origin and content of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium’s chapter on Mary, which served as the focal point of the Second Vatican Council’s doctrine on the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and the Church. The article proceeds to describe the Archbishop of Cracow Karol Wojtyla’s participation in conciliar discussions on Mary and then focuses on how Pope John Paul II embraced conciliar Mariology and reflected it in his teachings. What St. Pope John Paul II wrote about Mary goes beyond Vatican II’s Mariological teaching and includes Mary’s mediation, consecration to Mary, and Her role as the “Spouse of the Holy Spirit.” Pope Saint John Paul II offers a valuable paradigm for interpreting the Second Vatican Council.