Virgin Mary

The plurality of representations of the Virgin Mary is rivaled only by the multifaceted meanings attributed to these representations across religions and continents. Revered as the virgin mother of Jesus, Mary of Nazareth is described in the New Testament as having conceived a child through the action of the Holy Spirit, thereby fulfilling the prophesy of Isaiah 7:14.

In Roman Catholic theology, “Mariology” is a specific field of thought. Mary is considered the human vessel through which Christ became human. However, she is set aside from other humans by four dogmas. Her divine motherhood, declared in 431 CE, recognizes that she was predestined to be the Mother of God. The second dogma is her perpetual virginity, even after giving birth to Jesus. Third, the doctrine of the immaculate conception was declared a dogma in 1854. It states that she bore no trace of original sin. The most recently established dogma (1950) is her bodily assumption into heaven at her death.

The Qur'an recognizes the virgin birth of Jesus. According to Islam, Mary (Maryam) is a particularly pious woman blessed by God, and in contrast with Christianity, her son (Issa) is not considered the son of God but rather the messenger of God.

The Protestant tradition criticizes the Catholic emphasis on Mary and her role as intercessor with Christ and God. Catholic Mariology is interpreted as a form of idolatry. Protestants reject the Marian dogmas and do not refer to Mary as the Mother of God, although they accept that Mary gave birth to Jesus who is fully God.

Within the Catholic world, the significance attributed to Mary is multifaceted. Our Lady of Guadalupe, for instance, is the name given to the dark-complected Virgin Mary who appeared to an Indian on the hill of Tepeyac in 1531 and who now encapsulates Mexican national consciousness. Although the Virgin Mary was a patroness for Spanish conquerors, she embodied the revolutionary promise of liberation for Indians worshippers. William Taylor notes that her purity carried the promise of redemption and that her child was the source of a new beginning. Another layer of meaning is attributed to her role as an intercessor and how as such she legitimized acceptance of colonial authority by inspiring people to seek her mediation rather than address injustices directly. These contrasting interpretations coexisted through time with different emphases.

The plurality of interpretations has taken on a new dimension with the contemporary feminist critique of Mary's virginity and her identification as the new Eve (her absolute obedience to God's command contrasting with Eve's disobedience). Her unyielding virginity is interpreted by some as a sign of female power and autonomy and by others as a reification of male power implying that the only path to spirituality for women is chastity.