Daughter Zion

Meditations on the Church's Marian Belief

By: Joseph Ratzinger

Narrated by: Kevin O'Brien

Daughter Zion explores the biblical witness to the Church's Marian dogmas. Mary’s role as Mother of God, her virginity, the Immaculate Conception, and her assumption into heaven. Cardinal Ratzinger examines how these beliefs are linked to the Church’s faith in Jesus Christ. Far from competing with the truth about Christ, the Church’s Marian beliefs uphold and underscore that truth.

Mary’s role in salvation, according to Cardinal Ratzinger, was anticipated in the Old Testament. She was prefigured in Eve, the mother of the living; in the holy women of the Old Testament, such as Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, Esther, and Judith; and in the prophetic image of the daughter Zion. Cardinal Ratzinger also considers Mary’s place as the embodiment of created wisdom, who faithfully received the uncreated wisdom of the word of God in the incarnation.

Daughter Zion avoids the extremes of ignoring the biblical foundation for Marian doctrine on the one hand and fundamentalistic proof-texting on the other. Instead, the author beautifully and lucidly develops key biblical themes to help listeners understand and appreciate the mother of God.

©1983 Ignatius Press (P)2023 Ignatius Press

Mary, Daughter of Zion and Mother of the Church

What stood out the most is how the various aspects of the Catholic devotion Blessed Virgin Mary, her various titles and why she is symbol of the Church are clearly explained, The Catholic faithful who want to deepen their understanding of Mariology will greatly benefit from this.