Two great theologians endeavour to recover the centrality of Marian doctrine and devotion for the contemporary Church, offering a spiritually rich approach to Mariology that brings into new relief the Marian contours of ecclesiastical faith. Ratzinger and von Balthasar show that Mary is both the embodiment of the Church, and the mother who co-operates in giving birth to the Church in the souls of believers. At once profound and yet readily accessible, this book offers a theologically balanced and biblically grounded presentation of traditional and contemporary thought on Marian doctrine and spirituality.