"Marian Cool"

John Allen has some interesting things to say about Pope Benedict's visit to Lourdes.  In a very interesting piece describing the evolution of the Pope's thinking about Marian devotion, Allen concludes:

To sum all this up in a sound-bite: In contrast to both cold skepticism and hot devotion, Benedict XVI embodies what one might call “Marian cool.” Neither cynical nor credulous, he harbors deep feeling for Mary and a keen sense of her theological importance, combined with reserve about the signs and wonders that surround eruptions of new Marian enthusiasm.

Whether “Marian cool” will sweep the Catholic world remains to be seen, but it may well be the most original feature of Benedict’s two and a half days in Lourdes.