Teaching of Mariology in Seminaries

On Oct. 16, 2015 we joined together, across the globe in real time, to listen and discuss the first two presentations on the subject of Teaching Mariology in Seminaries. These initial presentations began via teleconference promptly at 3 p.m. Eastern time. After a brief introduction, each presenter gave a 20-minute presentation on his topic. The session concluded with an hour of open discussion and final remarks by 5 p.m. Eastern time. Fr. Benedict O\u27Cinnsealaigh, the president/rector of The Athenaeum of Ohio: Mt. St. Mary\u27s Seminary, reviewed the presence of Mary in seminary programs in general to present an ideal balanced with real experience. He reviewed the current practices relating Mary to priestly formation that includes human, spiritual, pastoral, and academic formation. He concluded with Cardinal Ratzinger\u27s argument for Mary\u27s central role in the academic formation of seminarians. Dr. Robert Fastiggi presented the results of his survey regarding the current status of Mariology in 35 major (graduate) seminaries in the United States. All of the seminaries include Mariology in some way. Some seminaries have required stand-alone courses in Mariology, while others include it with other subjects, and still others offer it as an elective