A Fitting Glory:Newman and Mariology R. James Lisowski C.S.C. (bio) The decades following the formal opening of John Henry Newman's cause for sainthood in 1991 have seen a renewed interest in his life and works. A particular aspect of this renewal has focused on Newman's evolving relationship to Mariology.1 Newman himself identified Mariology as a central issue in his conversion from Anglicanism to Rome.2 Indeed one may see Newman's struggle with Roman Catholic Mariology as exemplifying his overall quest for a via media.3 Although praising the merits of Mary in his 1832 sermon "The Reverence Due to the Virgin Mary," the early Newman warns against exaggerated Marian devotions, which he believed takes away from the worship due to God alone. Newman saw such erroneous forms of devotion in Roman Catholicism, particularly in practices that seemingly celebrate Mary apart from her son. In short, even as an Anglican, Newman had an appreciation for the role played by Mary in [End Page 21] the incarnation and believed that one could make certain theological statements about her singularity in the drama of salvation. Newman did not believe, however, in reflecting too deeply upon the dignity of Mary as this could lead to idolatry. It is only after producing An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845), in which he denied any legitimacy to the via media position, and being received into the Roman Catholic Church the same year, that Newman accepted Marian devotion.4 This acceptance was founded in his conclusion that Marian devotion was present in embryo in the early church and developed organically through history. In his Catholic period, Newman not only acknowledged the legitimacy of Marian devotion, but also enriched his prior Mariology. This article traces this progression of Newman's thinking on Mary. Newman's 1832 sermon, "The Reverence Due to the Virgin Mary," selections from his Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, and his Discourses To Mixed Congregations XVII and XVIII, are considered key texts, which illuminate the evolution of Newman's thought.5 It is argued that although possessing a relatively developed Mariology as a young Anglican, Newman's position blossomed with the insights he detailed in his Essay on Development6 and reached fuller maturity in the two Marian discourses. Hence the Essay on Development is the crucial text for understanding Newman's emerging Mariology. This text acted as the lens through which he sharpened his initial theology concerning Mary and dismissed fears concerning Marian devotion as idolatrous. EARLY MARIOLOGY Newman's first noteworthy comments on Mary are found in his 1832 sermon entitled, "The Reverence Due to the Virgin Mary."7 Upon reading this early text, one may be surprised at Newman's rather developed Mariology. It is important to keep in mind that in studying Newman at this phase of his life8 [End Page 22] we are not encountering the work of an evangelical Protestant. Rather, Newman is representative of a "high church" Anglicanism, which possessed a liturgical practice and theological tradition that bore some affinity to the Roman Church.9 Introducing this sermon, Philip Boyce described it as "a very remarkable piece of religious writing and the most outstanding Marian sermon by the Anglican Newman. It is a fine example of a theological meditation, resting firmly on Sacred Scripture … it contains the best summary we have of Newman's Anglican thoughts on our Lady."10 As we consider this early sermon, it seems best to treat its contents in a two-fold manner. In the first part of the text, Newman considered the blessedness of Mary as it pertains to her role in salvation history as the "new Eve." The latter part contains a cautionary note to this praise of Mary in that it might lead to idolatry. The initial praise of Mary is also examined, offering explication and comment, before considering the cautionary second portion. Newman opened this sermon by praising Mary for the unique role she played in salvation history: "In her [Mary] the destinies of the world were to be reversed, and the serpent's head bruised. On her was bestowed the greatest honour ever put upon...