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Ave Maria!

Welcome to what is probably the only website in the world exclusively dedicated to the absolute primacy of Jesus Christ according to the teachings of Bl. John Duns Scotus and the Franciscan school (“Franciscan” because, like the Immaculate Conception of Mary, they have championed the doctrine of the absolute primacy of Christ the King in all creation, but they are by no means the first or only ones to propose it; rather, as can be gathered from this website, this doctrine is found in the Scriptures, Fathers, Doctors, Saints and Mystics of the Church of all ages because it is simply the truth!).

Please note that all Christians are united in attributing a universal primacy to Christ; after all, He is God, the Eternal Word, made flesh! But is His universal primacy as the God-Man a relative primacy, in other words, occasioned by the sin of man? Or is His primacy absolute and unconditional and not dependent upon man’s need for Redemption? It is a question of God’s creative plan. Was Christ willed as the center of creation or was His coming due exclusively to man’s sin?

The Franciscan school has always proclaimed that God’s Masterpiece, namely Jesus the Son of God and Son of Mary, was at the center of God’s creative plan regardless of sin. And that is precisely what this website is all about – here we want to look at this sublime truth, like a sparkling diamond, from many angles, under different lights and with the aid of a variety of experts so as to see its dazzling beauty and appraise its infinite worth.

The text of the different pages is taken primarily from my book, A Primer on the Absolute Primacy of Christ (available for five bucks, if you’re interested), with occasional new comments or references in brackets, plus the addition of 2 appendices on Christ as the beginning and on the formation of Adam’s body, plus a number of blog entries on related topics with many links to resources; the videos of my series The Cornerstone are conveniently situated near the text that I’m explaining. In this way both the text and the videos are coherently linked according to subject matter which should make it easy to find and select the material related to the argument that interests you.

On this subject there are great minds, yes, even Doctors of the Church, on both sides, so we, like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure, need to respect both positions, even if we take a stand on one side or the other.

Thank you for visiting and let us pray for one another.

In Corde Matris,

Fr. Maximilian Mary Dean, Hermit

FYI – I’m a Hermit in the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA – a vocation that developed during my many years as a Franciscan friar and priest (3 years with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and 22 years with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate). I’m also a musician and you can view, stream, share, listen, purchase my music at FatherMaxMusic.com.

 

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Christ & the Cosmos: A Symposium on the Absolute Primacy of Christ

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July 12-14th, 2024 – Symposium on the Absolute Primacy of Christ at Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen, IL.

Join us at Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church (near Chicago) July 12-14, 2024 for a grace-filled weekend of conferences on the Absolute Primacy of Jesus Christ. In Medieval times all of the great scholastics, including Saints like Anselm, Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure and Bl. John Duns Scotus, grappled with the question of God’s primary motive in bringing about the Incarnation. Was it because of sin – no sin, no Incarnation? Or was Emmanuel God’s original plan – sin or no sin, always the Incarnation? The objective of this Symposium is to create an opportunity for scholars to present theological arguments in favor of the absolute primacy of Christ and to create a resource – a handbook, as it were – for theologians and faithful alike who want to learn more about the beauty and intricacies of this Christocentric perspective of creation and salvation history.

For detailed information & registration click HERE.

  1. Archpriest G. Florovosky: primary motive of the Incarnation – an Orthodox perspective Comments Off on Archpriest G. Florovosky: primary motive of the Incarnation – an Orthodox perspective
  2. The Doctrine of the Absolute Primacy of Christ Prior to Scotus (+1308) Comments Off on The Doctrine of the Absolute Primacy of Christ Prior to Scotus (+1308)
  3. The Mystery of the Cross is immersed in the most ardent and tender flames of divine love Comments Off on The Mystery of the Cross is immersed in the most ardent and tender flames of divine love
  4. St. Maximilian M. Kolbe on the Fall of Lucifer Comments Off on St. Maximilian M. Kolbe on the Fall of Lucifer
  5. Pope Benedict XVI, Scotus, the Incarnation Comments Off on Pope Benedict XVI, Scotus, the Incarnation
  6. St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Church – Christ willed “for His own sake” Comments Off on St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Church – Christ willed “for His own sake”
  7. St. Athanasius – Christ before the ages Comments Off on St. Athanasius – Christ before the ages
  8. St. John Damascene – Christ the Firstborn of All Creation Comments Off on St. John Damascene – Christ the Firstborn of All Creation
  9. Christ the Firstborn of All Creatures – Firstborn of the Dead Comments Off on Christ the Firstborn of All Creatures – Firstborn of the Dead