Our Lady and the Church is one of the great works of twentieth century theology a profound meditation on the riches to be found in the writings of the Early Church Fathers about Mary Filles with richly poetic sometimes startling imagery Our Lady and the Church is the rare book that appeals with equal power to both the mind and the heart Hugo Rahner s great achievement was his rediscovery in the Fathers of the indivisibility of Mary and the Church This marvelous book is one of the most important theological rediscoveries of the twentieth century Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger With engaging clarity this pioneering study sets forth the vast range of biblical metaphors the Fathers applied to Mary and the Church ark of the covenant valiant woman treasure laden ship This rich theology of poetry and image has much to say to our more prosaic age Avery Cardinal Dulles