Many Faces of the Virgin

In the vast world of Christianity, there is nobody more divisive than Mother Mary. Though the cause for fractions within Christianity can be attributed to many complex theological issues and doctrines such as the Real Presence, the Sacraments and the Papacy, I don't think there is anything out there that creates more emotional rift than the God-bearer. Catholics recognize Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Help of Christians. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII exercised the rarely used Papal infallibility to declare "that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". So what is it that Catholics see in Mary that other Christians failed to see? Why has the Church risked abandonment of many of the followers because of her devotion to Mary? What is the role of Mary in the Church?

Born to poor parents and living in a society oppressed by foreign rulers, Mary's life couldn't have been what we call comfortable these days. She said "Yes" to the call of God, thus opening her heart to be pierced with swords of sorrows. She gave birth to her only Son in an animal barn following several days of journey through the treacherous roads on a donkey. She heard the heart breaking cries of hundreds of mothers whose babies were slaughtered by a frightened ruler. She was mocked by family and neighbors when her Son, the sole bread winner of the family, abandoned his profession to preach the gospel to prostitutes, tax collectors and other social outcasts. Then she stood by and watched her Son dying on a cross after being treated to barbaric torture. We often associate accomplishment of our dreams and desires as a proof that God is with us. But Mary, who bore the son of God in her womb, enjoyed none of the pleasures or luxuries, as one would expect. Yet the Bible calls her "Blessed"! Apparently, God has rewarded Mary in ways which are neither conventional nor logical. But, how?

Since the beginning of time, many women had dominated the headlines and turned heads of the societies they lived in. Few of these names even managed to survive the demise of the actual person, like Cleopatra or Joan of Arc. All of them have a definite identity - they are all associated with a particular time in history, their depictions have recognizable ethnic traits, and their characteristics tend to be in line with those of the civilizations they belonged to. The Virgin Mother was actually an olive-skinned, dark-eyed peasant girl from Palestine; definitely not a headline material during her lifetime - she hardly appeared on stage with her Son during His time as the Miracle Man from Galilee and she is absolutely silent during the early days of the Church. During a recent visit to the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception at Washington D.C, I saw hundreds of depictions of the Holy Virgin - present there were resemblances from ancient goddesses to Renaissance royalty;  from Aztec princess to Chinese Nobility; from fair skinned European beauty to the Black Madonna; from a woman wearing long sleeved white robe with a blue mantle to a golden saree. She is Our Lady of Africa, Antipolo, China, Fatima, Guadalupe, La Vang, Laus, Lourdes, Mount Carmel, Velankanni and Ta Pina. She is Our Lady of Assumption, Good Counsel, Grace, Immaculate Conception, Miraculous Medal, Solitude, Sorrows, and Perpetual Help. She is Our Lady of the Highways, Snows, Mountain, Valleys, Woods, Rocks, Pillar, and Star of the Seas. They all look different, but somehow you know it is her - Mother of Christ, Virgin most renowned, Vessel of Honor, Refuge of sinners, Comfort of the afflicted, and Queen of peace. 

For the past 2000 years, every culture and every generation envisioned Mary differently. Is it possible that God Himself has revealed His mother to us as someone with whom we can have a sense of familiarity? Often we are apprehensive to the glory of God; we try to hide from Him. So He wants us to go to His mother undaunted by her familiar features. God knows Mary well - full of Grace and possessed with indelible goodness, she always points those who approach her to Jesus Christ, her Son. Mary is not the object of worship; she is the tabernacle of our Lord and Redeemer - the One and the only one worthy of all glory, praise and worship.