THE Blessed Virgin Mary stands at the heart of the Christian tradition. She holds a unique place in the Church's theology, doctrine and devotion, commensurate with her unique position in human history as the Mother of God.

Over the centuries much has been written about every aspect of Our Lady's life and work, and their theological implications. So much, that for many of us a systematic study of Our Lady in the Church's teaching seems a daunting task; we need help so that we may share in the joy of study and reflection on Mary's being and action in the economy of Salvation.

In this book Dr Paul Haffner offers a clear and structured overview of theology and doctrine concerning Mary, set in an historical perspective. He outlines the basic scheme of what constitutes Mariology, set in the context of other forms of theological enquiry, and, working through the contribution of Holy Scripture — in the Old Testament forms of prefigurement and the New Testament witness — he proceeds to examine each of the fundamental doctrines that the Church teaches about Our Lady. From the Immaculate Conception to Mary's continuing Motherhood in the Church as Mediatrix of all graces, the reader will find here a sure and steady guide, faithful to tra­dition and offering a realist perspective, not reducing the concrete aspects of Mary's gifts and privileges to mere symbols on the one hand, and not confusing doctrine and devotionalism on the other.

The Mystery of Mary, with a foreword by Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganca, is published to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the definition by Pope Blessed Pius IX of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

Paul Haffner, a priest of the diocese of Portsmouth (England), obtained his first degree in physics at Oxford University. He went on to philosophical and theological studies in Rome, and received his doctorate from the Pontifical Gregorian University. At present, he is lecturer in systematic and dogmatic theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Lateran University and the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. His publications with Gracewing include A Methodology for Term Papers and Theses and, in this series, The Mystery of Creation, The Sacramental Mystery and The Mystery of Reason (all now also published in Italian by Vatican Press).