Gabriel Roschini

Gabriel Maria Roschini, O.S.M. (1900–1977), was a Roman Catholic Italian priest and professor of Mariology, who published over 900 titles on Mariology. During the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, he worked closely with the Vatican on Marian publications.

In light of the encyclopedic accuracy of his work, Roschini is considered as one of the top two Mariologists in the 20th century. His first major work, a four volume Mariology, Il Capolavoro di Dio, is judged to be the most comprehensive Mariological presentation in the 20th century. Several theologians called him "one of the most profound Mariologists" and "irreplaceable".

Life and contributions

Roschini was born in Castel Sant'Elia (Viterbo, Italy) in 1900. Upon entering the Order of the Servants of Mary he changed his name to Gabriel Maria (or Gabriele-Maria) from his given name of Alessandro Roschini. In 1924, he received his ordination as a priest. Additionally, Roschini was a doctor in philosophy and master in sacred theology.

He founded the journal Marianum in 1939 and directed it for thirty years. In 1950, during the reign of Pope Pius XII he founded the Marianum Theological Faculty, which is now a pontifical institute, and served as its rector. He was also instrumental in reviving the Marian Library, which was transferred to the International College of Saint Alexis Falconieri in 1946. Other roles included professor at the Lateran Pontifical University and the Marianum Pontifical Theology Faculty, as well as advisor for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and for the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

His death in Rome in 1977 corresponded to the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, September 12.

Impact on Mariology

During the pontificate of Pius XII, “the most Marian Pope in Church history” Roschini worked closely with the Pontiff, arranging his own publications parallel to Papal mariological promulgations. During and after the Vatican council, Roschini tried to adjust to the colder mariological spirit in his 1973 publication Il misteri di Maria considerato alle luce del mistero di Christo e della Chiesa, an updated four volume Mariology.

Together he published over 900 titles, mostly on Mariology, in addition to his encyclopedic works, reviewing the Mariological contributions of saints like, Bernard of Chiavelle and Anthony of Padua. In 1950, he explained the Mariology of Thomas Aquinas. He detailed his Mariology in a major work in the year 1952.

Earlier, Roschini had contributed with a new interpretation to the Mariological theology of the Co-Redemptrix, which was not universally accepted. In his 1946 publication Compendium Mariologiae he explains, that Mary did not only participates in birth of the physical Jesus, but, with conception, she entered with him into a spiritual union. The divine salvation plan, being not only material, includes a permanent spiritual unity with Christ. Most Mariologists agree with this position. Roschini entered new theological territory, when he defined the spiritual unity of Mary and Christ to form a "salvation pair", in which Mary is a true helper of her son. However, in this salvation duo, Mary is clearly subordinated to her son, according to Roschini, who, not wanting to elevate Mary to the level of divinity, insists that Mary needed salvation through Christ like all other persons. But, because she is the Mother of God, the only Mother of God among all humans, Mary is a unique species, different from all others. She shares only human nature with the rest of humanity. She belongs to Christ, with whom she is spiritually united.

The Marian views of Roschini have continued to gather interest and are subject to continued research, with doctoral theses in Theology and books written about him.

Views on Maria Valtorta

Internet citations most often invoke Roschini as a supporter of Maria Valtorta’s somewhat controversial book, The Poem of the Man God. Roschini's book, The Virgin Mary in the Writings of Maria Valtorta, provides an exegesis of the favorable representation of Mary in the Poem. At first, Roschini was skeptical of the Poem of the Man God’s authenticity but upon studying the work grew to appreciate it as a private revelation, concluding “We find ourselves facing an effect (her work) which seems to be beyond its cause (Maria Valtorta)” (p. 7). He wrote of Valtorta:

"I must candidly admit that the Mariology found in Maria Valtorta's writings, whether published or not, has been for me a real discovery. No other Marian writing, not even the sum total of all the writings I have read and studied were able to give me as clear, as lively, as complete, as luminous, or as fascinating an image, both simple and sublime, of Mary, God's masterpiece."

Roschini presided over the services of Valtorta’s “privileged burial,” in which her remains were relocated from Viareggio to the Santissima Annunziata Basilica in Florence in 1973.

Selected publications

• Il Capolavoro di Dio, Mariology in IV volumes, Roma 1933

• Compendium Mariologiae, Roma, 1946

• La Mariologia di Sant'Antonio da Padova, in Marianum, Roma, 1946

• La Madonna secondo la fede e la Teologia, Roma, 1950

• La Mariologia di San Tommaso, Roma, 1950

• Mariologia, Roma, 1952

• La Madonna secondo la fede e la teologia IV volumes, Roma 1953 1954

• Il dottore Mariano, Studio sulla dottrina di San Bernardo di Chiaravalle, Roma 1953

• The Virgin Mary in the Writings of Maria Valtorta, Kolbe's Publications ISBN 2-920285-08-4

• Dizionario di Mariologia, Roma, 1957

• Il misteri di Maria considerato alla luce del mistero di Cristo e della Chiesa, Roma 1973

Sources and external links

• Remigius Bäumer, Gabriel Roschini, in Marienlexikon, St. Ottilien, 1994

• Publisher’s Notice in the Second Italian Edition (1986), reprinted in English Edition, Gabriel Roschini, O.S.M. (1989). The Virgin Mary in the Writings of Maria Valtorta (English Edition). Kolbe's Publication Inc. ISBN 2-920285-08-4