The Virginal Middle: Towards a Marian Metaxology

Abstract

In the following, an initial approach to the otherwise very old and perennial relationship between theology and philosophy is undertaken by constructively pressing into service the wealth of the mystical theological tradition and twinned with a robust Marian reflection as a fruitful, though largely under utilized theological matrix in which to facilitate this encounter. With recourse to the metaxological metaphysics of the contemporary Irish philosopher of religion, William Desmond, I argue for a Marian metaxology as uniquely opening an integral site of open porosity between theology and philosophy well-beyond the narrow field of Mariology proper. And furthermore, speculatively reengaging Mary's irreducible significance is to be found in maintaining this excessive, ‘virginal middle’ from which ‘one infers the lesser from the greater’ (i.e. God becomes man) and ‘also the greater from the lesser (i.e. man becomes divine)’, themes of which direct us to the very core of the use of analogy and the metaphysical, the economy of salvation overall and mystical theology in particular.