In the introduction Max Thurian says, ‘There would be no point in a study of the Virgin Mary if the significance of it were merely historical; and still less if its motives were merely polemical. We have better things to do than to fight among ourselves at this time when we are maturing ecumenically and when the world is waiting for us to reveal our unity in the essential verities and in supernatural lore so that it may believe. Instead of being a cause of division amongst us, Christian reflections on the role of the Virgin Mary should be cause for rejoicing and a source of prayer.
This study lays no claim to originality in a solution of various exegetical or dogmatic problems. Its proper nature is a balance between the diverse aspects of Mary’s vocation and an ecumenical longing to set the Marian problem in relation both to Catholic tradition on the one hand, whilst maintaning solidarity with Reformed thought on the other. Our desire has been to produce a biblical and ecumenical study which would provide for the spiritual edification of the contemporary Christian.
Meditation on the vocation and life of Mary is at one and the same time a meditation also on the vocation and life of the Church; and as a consequence we shall come to understand better our own Christian vocation and life in relation to the Church which is “the mother of the faithful”.