The Flourishing Cult Of Mary In The Western Europe During The High Middle Ages

This thesis puts stress on the historical facts of the generation, development and flourish of the Mary Cult so as to explore the causation of the flourishing cult of Mary in the Westem Europe during the High Middle Ages. The article consists of the following four sections:Chapter I principally reveals the true identity of Mary, through reviewing the object of cult from the Bible. We can say that Mary is just a common person who is in God's good graces to become the mother of Jesus, namely, she doesn't possess any divinity in nature.Chapter II systematically investigates the theological basis for the Mary Cult at a historical angle. During the fourth and fifth centuries, in order to stand up for the true humanity of Christ, the Christianity preliminarily established three principal Marian teachings, that is, The Second Eve, The Paragon of Chastity and The Theotokos. Thereafter, Mary began to take up a certain place in Christian theology.Chapter III elaborates the beginning and end of the generation of the cult of Mary during the the fourth and fifth centuries. The princess Pulcheria of Eastern Roman Empire commenced establishing the common cult of Mary and laying the foundation of the pattem of Marian devotion on the basic of Marian teachings, especially The Theotokos.Chapter IV specially makes a complete diagnosis of the social psychologic climate which had urged the flourishing cult of Mary in the Westem Europe during the High Middle Ages. It was in a ascetic and self-denial atmosphere that the whole church was absolutely comprised by ascetic monks. The cult of Mary was pushed to its flourish by such church, with the result that the Western Europe entered into "the Age of the Virgin".