Charles Balic

Charles Balic (Croatian: Karlo Balić; 9 December 1899 - 15 April 1977) was a Croatian Franciscan Mariologist. Friar Charles Balić was a famous Theologian, specializing in the figure and works of John , and Rector of the Pontifical University of Rome. He was the founder of the Pontifical Academy of Mary[1] and President of the International Scotistic Commission. He was the principal redactor in the editing of the chapter VIII of the Lumen gentium with “De Beata” redaction.[2] He has been important for the ecumenical .[3] Balic is considered as one of the top representative of the "Marian movement" in the 20th century: his appointment was conclusive for the proclamation of the dogma of the assumption.[4]

1 Biography Mariological Congress

Successively, he was sent to Louvain from where he re- ceived a Doctorate for a thesis on Franciscan Mariology of the 13th and 14th centuries. Returning to Croatia, he served as Lecturer in his Province until 1933, when he was sent to Rome to begin teaching in the new Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum, where he gave his Inaugural Class, which was to become the beginning of his career. He later became the Rector Magnificus and had the Our Lady of the Assumption hall built. Antonio Piolanti recalls Balić as “a titan of a man, built almost on an abyss of contrasts - a great soul of unlim- ited horizons and immense desires. A type of coinci- dentia oppositorum was easily detected in the vigorous spiritual physiognomy of this worthy son of strong and gentle Croatia: the heart of a child and Hieronymic im- petus, the tenderness of a mother and authoritativeness of a leader, acute and penetrating intelligence, resolute and fiery determination, warm generosity and Dantesque indignation”.[5]

2 President of International Scotis- tic Commission Carlo Balic

Karlo Balić was born in the village of Katuni near He was entrusted with the International Scotistic Com- Šestanovac, Croatia. Entering the Franciscan Order in mission to which he gave such a new impulse that he was 1917, through the Province of the Most Holy Redeemer considered a re-founder. He drew up, in fact, a new “way” of Dalmatia, he was ordained to the Priesthood in 1923. for the critical edition of Scotus’ Opera Omnia.

1 2 10 NOTES

3 Founder of the International Marian Pontifical Academy

Charged by the Order to preside over the Commissio Marialis Franciscana, he founded, in 1947, the Pontifical Academy of Mary , an entity for the coordination of all the Mariology Scholars of the world.

4 Assumptionist Congresses

Through the Academy, Balić began a series of Congresses on the Assumption which prepared the dogma of the Assumption: Rome 1947, Lisbon 1947, Madrid 1947; Montréal 1948; Buenos Aires 1948; Puy-en-Velay 1949; USA 1950.[6] With Paul VI 8 Influence in the Vatican II

5 Pontifical Commission for the Balić has been as expert during the Council Vatican II. dogma of Assumption He has worked in the editing of the chapter VIII of the Lumen gentium. The editing of the mariological text pre- pared by the Saint Office that will influence the editing of Balić participated actively as a member of the The- the chapter VIII of the Lumen gentium has been compiled ological Commission appointed by Pope Pius XII by Balic.[7] for the proclamation of dogma and the redaction of Munificentissimus Deus document. 9 Influence in the mariology

6 International Mariological Mar- With Father Gabriel Roschini he was a represented of the “maximalists”. Balić and Roschini’s dream of having ian Congresses the mediation of Mary proclaimed shattered the concil- iar halls. Recalling the strenuous battle conducted dur- Seeing the valuable contribution to theological research ing the Council in defense of the Marian privileges, Fa- by the International Marian Mariology Congresses, ther Balić, eyes bright with pain, said to Piolanti one day: [8] presided over and organised by Balić, the Holy Office “It was there that all my work was wrecked”. The at- entrusted him with the preparation of the document De tack against the maximalists was the publication of the [9] Beata, to be presented to the Fathers of the II Vatican book La question mariale, by Laurentin, in which the Council. During the whole of the council period, Balić “Marian movement” was presented as “a problem”. Lau- showed he was one of the most active and useful experts, rentin’s book was refuted by a great mariologist, the jesuit [10] cooperating in the redaction of chapter VIII of Lumen Father De Aldama, at the request of Father Balić and Gentium. In 1975, in the Aula Magna of the Antoni- Father Roschini, who in turn intervened in the polemics [11] anum on the occasion of the Mariological Congress, Pope with a booklet called “The so-called Marian question”. Paul VI thanked and gave homage to Balić for all he had done in the name of the Order for the good of the whole Church. 10 Notes

An austere, simple, kind and straight person, and tireless worker and lover of the Rule and Franciscan life, Balić 7 Scotistic Congresses was a studious Friar, investigator, writer and developer of publications and of congresses, having as themes the me- Balić has organized the Scotistic Congresses: Rome dieval Franciscan authors. His remains lie buried inside (1950), Oxford-Edinburgh (1966), Vienna (1970), Padua the Mediatrix of All Graces Church in his native Katuni. (1976) Pope Paul VI «in sign of benevolence and appreciation 3 than he had developed in the Church» wrote from him an [4] Suprema Sacra Congregatio Sancti Officii, Archivium, autographs Letter Laetifica prorsus. Tab. B.M.V. Fasc. I-VIII [5] A. PIOLANTI, Abisso di contrasti, Roma 1977, pp. 192 11 Selected publications [6] B. de Armelada, Padre Balić e i Congressi Assunzionis- tici Francescani, in G. Calvo – S. Cecchin (edd.), Memo- ria eius in benedictione. Atti del Simposio internazionale • Theologiae marianae Ioannis Duns Scoti ad fidem per il 1° Centenario della nascita di P. Carlo Balić (1899- codicum editio, Louvaine 1926. 1999), Città del Vaticano 2001, pp. 91-116.

• Theologiae marianae scholae franciscanae saeculo- [7] Suprema Sacra Congregatio Sancti Officii, Archivium, rum XIII et XIV fontes critice stabiliuntur et doctrina prot.n. 63/59 (1960.02.21) exponitur, Louvaine 1927. [8] A. PIOLANTI, P. Carlo Balić o.f.m., Profilo, Impres- • Kroz Marijin perivoj (“Hortus marianus”), Šibenik sioni, ricordi, Roma 1977, pp. 191-192 1931. [9] R. Laurentin, La question mariale, Ed. du Seuil, Paris 1963. • Joannis de Polliaco et Joannis de Napoli quaestione s disputatae de immaculata Conceptione B. Mariae [10] J.A. De Aldama, De questioni mariali in hodierna vita Ec- Virginis, Instituti theologici Makarensis, Sibenici, clesiae, Pontifical Marian International Academy, Rome 1931. 1964.

• Ioannis Duns Scoti, Doctoris Subtilis et Mariani, The- [11] G.M. Roschini, La cosiddetta “questione mariana”, Vi- ologiae Marianae Elementa, Sibenici 1933 cenza 1963.

• Tractatus de immortalitate B.V. Mariae, Ed. Pontif- icia Academia Mariana Internationalis, Roma 1948. 14 Sources and external links • Testimonia de assumptione B.V. Mariae ex omnibus • saeculis. Pars prior: ex aetate ante Concilium Tri- Pontifical Marian Academy. dentinum, Ed. Pontificia Academia Mariana Inter- nationalis, Roma 1948.

• Testimonia de assumptione B.V. Mariae ex omnibus saeculis. Pars altera: ex aetate post Concilium Tri- dentinum, Ed. Pontificia Academia Mariana Inter- nationalis, Roma 1950

12 See also

• Pontifical Academy of Mary

• Pontifical Academy

• Mariology

• Roman

• Virgin Mary

13 References

[1] http://www.pami.info/pamiculturaleView.php?lg=it& id=351

[2] E. Toniolo, La beata Maria Vergine nel concilio Vaticano II, Rome 2004, pp. 23ss.

[3] Balic, Mariology and Ecumenism in Vatican II, Unity Apostolate, Central Office 1966 4 15 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

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