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About This TabHaving found it extremely interesting that Mary wasn't immensely prevalent throughout biblical teachings until after Jesus' death, it stirred up question as to how do individuals in modern day society view Mary?
We decided to tackle this question and what was found is both interesting and relieving to know that Mary is still worshipped greatly, as she should be. |
Mary's
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Mary has been one of the most prominent figures throughout society. Although she has been disregarded at times throughout the Bible and religious works she was then worshipped immensely shortly after. As Stephen Shoemaker explained in a talk about the Virgin Mary, he explained that Mary’s devotion began well before the Council of Ephesus in the Roman Empire, yet wasn’t regarded until afterwards when devotion for Mary, “Emerged like a commit.”[1] The way in which the Virgin Mary is viewed today has both influenced society as well as had a huge impact on individuals. For instance, there have been traces of individuals who have found they follow a group of individuals that is known as the Mary cult as their way of life. In the article, The Visions of the Virgin Mary by Michael Carroll, he states, “That the Mary cult was formed when a group of female Mary-worshippers, called the Collyridians, who were individuals that constructed a movement that enabled followers to join in order to worship the Virgin Mary as a goddess was then incorporated into the Church in the 4th century A.D.”[2] Not only was Mary seen as the mother of Jesus, she was incorporated into the Church as an individual herself who is important in society for who she is, not to mention an individual that is looked up to since the 4th century. Such individuals who follow this cult find themselves conforming to the ideas and ways of Mary, as a way to “promote cultural integration or to maintain the existing social order.”[3] In addition, one individual, Warner, stated that, “The Mary cult functioned to reinforce patriarchal traditions in Europe…”[4] Reiterating the notion that although this cult was originally formed to share similar ideas with other Mary-worshippers, it then transformed into a more complex and impactful organization that proved that Mary was a person who brought the Church together and reinforced Catholics of their religious following. Not only did Mary have an affect on social ideologies, Mary also had an impact on households within society. Having been such a prominent figure in the Church, the influence that Mary seems to have on families and their children began to emerge as she became a real leader within the Catholic religion. Carroll states, “In fact, obsessive religious practices associated with Mary are a dominant feature of daily life in both Italy and Spain.”[5] Illustrating that the practices that Mary exercised in her past are found within the Church today and are seen as ways that families incorporate a structure into their daily lives. Mary isn’t just a figure that is recognized in Church, but in certain cultures, like Italy and Spain, the religious practices of Mary are used day to day. Religious practices such as Sunday school or CCD for children where they learn the basics of the Christian religion that is based on the ideas and importance of individuals within the Bible, which prominently includes Mary. In addition, in order for children to receive Communion and Confirmation they must go to confession prior and it is required to say the Hail Mary. Above all, Mary’s popularity within the Catholic religion has allowed for society to view her as a role model for religious notions as well as providing certain communities with a basis for a daily lifestyle structure.
[1] Shoemaker, Stephen. Devotion to Mary in Early Christianity. Lecture, Providence, April 12, 2016. [2] Carroll, Michael P. Visions of the Virgin Mary: The Effect of Family Structures on Marian Apparitions. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Wiley. 1983. 205-206. [3] Carroll, Michael P. Visions of the Virgin Mary: The Effect of Family Structures on Marian Apparitions. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Wiley. 1983. 206. [4] Carroll, Michael P. Visions of the Virgin Mary: The Effect of Family Structures on Marian Apparitions. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Wiley. 1983. 206. [5] Carroll, Michael P. Visions of the Virgin Mary: The Effect of Family Structures on Marian Apparitions. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Wiley. 1983. 217. |