earth’s full burden swayed.
--Mary Karr
I’ve recently begun challenging myself to think of Mary a little differently. Instead of thinking of her as “the Virgin Mary,” I self-correct and think, “Embodied Mary.” The Blessed, Embodied Mother.
Mary’s virginity is the least interesting thing about her. What’s interesting is how she understands her own virginity. She is conscious of how her body works and starts there: “How can this be, when I’ve had no relations with a man?” The only question Mary asks the angel about his unbelievable proclamation is one about the body. Mary is immaculate: She has no reason to be disconnected from her body, to be ashamed or fearful.
Then, Mary is willing to undergo immense bodily change and social exclusion for the sake of God’s coming into the world through her labor. In such a quick scene, how could she possibly trust such an immense, unfathomable future and make this choice? Because she knew her context. She knew her body. She knew her scripture. She was faithful.
And what flows from Mary is overwhelming peace. Our Blessed, Embodied Mother makes the biggest choice of her life from a place of utmost peace: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.” This peace is a direct result of how Mary models decision-making: She starts with the body, she roots into her context, and all else flows from there.
This is our example for discernment.
--Madison Chastain
In May, we celebrate the Virgin Mary...
May we all see Our Lady a little differently.
Image source. 1: Artemesia Gentileschi, Annunciation (1623), https://talbotspy.org/looking-at-the-masters-the-annunciation-by-bverly-hall-smith/
Image source 2: Iain Campbell, Annunciation, https://paintinglukesgospel.org.uk/the-annunciation/ -- with a video by the artist about his work!
Quotation 1 source
Quotation 2 source & full article
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