[fr maximilian mary]

Click here to see a 7 minute presentation on Scotus' thought.

St. Maximus the Confessor (+662), Bl. John Duns Scotus (+1308), St. Francis De Sales (+1622) and many others before and after them held that Christ had an absolute primacy in God's creative plan--a primacy not occasioned by sin. With or without the Fall of Adam, God's eternal purpose was that all things be brought under the headship of the Incarnate Logos. This is especially seen in the original Greek of St. Paul (cf. Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:18).

In the West this perspective has been largely overlooked and forgotten, especially since the Council of Trent when the theology St. Thomas Aquinas was utilized in defending the true Faith against the Protestant Revolt.

The thesis of the absolute primacy of Christ has come to be known, in the West, as the "Franciscan thesis" because of the Franciscan theologian, Bl. John Duns Scotus. His penetrating insights into this topic deserve more attention.

[fr maximilian mary]

Ave Maria!

Ping... with an invitation to reflect and comment on the subject.

Benedicat vos Omnipotens Deus +

Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus. Amen

[GrannyML]

Thank you for posting this. I am not a theologian, but this is a very interesting discussion on something which had never occurred to me before. Thanks again for giving me something on which to reflect and study.

[NYer]

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[SaintDismas]

Why should this matter to us?

[maryz]

His penetrating insights into this topic deserve more attention.

Yes, I think his insights too can add to our "understanding" (if we can call it that!) of the Incarnation a depth and resonance it would not otherwise have. (I don't include the lunacies of the Moonbat School in "insights" that deserve attention!)

[koinonia]

Wow! That was a clear, unbiased, well-documented article introducing the topic! I have been studying the position for two years now and I learned some useful points. I am surprised that St Thomas could not find evidence in Scripture for the Absolute Primacy. I certainly don’t claim to be holier or more intelligent/ enlightened than he is, but I see VERY strong evidence for it in Scripture (e.g.: Col. 1:15-20, Eph. 1:3-14, 1 Cor. 2:7-12, Rom. 8:28-30, 2 Tm. 1:9-10, 1 Cor. 3:23, Hebrews 10:7, Ps.39, Jn. 8:25, Gen. 1:1 with Jn. 1, Apoc 22:13 and similar passages, and possibly Ecclus. 24:5, Philippians 2:10-11, Gal. 4:4, and Prov. 8:22-9:6).
Let’s keep praying and meditating on this, and let us (on our knees) ask Jesus and Mary for enlightenment. May we always return to the Manger and to the Cross with greater humility, repentance, gratitude, fervor, love, peace, and joy.

[koinonia]

Congratulations on the new website, Father. For those who are interested in the subject check out his site (text, videos, blog): www.absoluteprimacyofchrist.org