March Research Seminar

"A Modern Controversy about Mary's Betrothal to Joseph"

Date: 18th March 2026

Time: 3:00pm (in the UK)

10:00am in US CT; 11:00am in US ET

(please note the daylight savings time difference in March)

16:00 in Central Europe

Venue: Online via Zoom

Espousal of Mary and Joseph (Holy Card by Jacques Gouppy, The Marian Library Collection)

THEME

The interpretation of Mary's betrothal in Luke 1:27 changed in the later years of the 20th century. Ever since the Church Fathers, the Church has understood the betrothal to Joseph as a form of marriage. In contrast, some modern translations of Luke 1:27 describe Mary as "engaged to a man named Joseph." These new translations have influenced modern portrayals of Mary as being shamed, shunned, or nearly stoned to death for her pregnancy. In our March research seminar, Dr. Gloria Dodd will explore these two interpretations using linguistics, history, and sociology, to explain the stages of a Jewish marriage in Biblical times. She will discuss the Christological and Mariological implications of the two different interpretations.

OUR GUEST SPEAKER

Dr. Gloria Falcão Dodd is a research professor with the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, in Ohio, USA. She is the author of the book entitled The Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace: History and Theology of the Movement for a Dogmatic Definition from 1896 to 1964. Her most recent articles include contributions to Marian Studies and Estudios Marianos. She is the current President of the Mariological Society of America, and a full member of the International Marian Pontifical Academy.

REGISTER

To receive the free Zoom link, please send an email to Catherine O'Brien at the following address: info@marianstudies.ac.uk