For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.
H. L. Mencken
Mary
This seems like such an incorrect place to place a Christian entity (I mean, heck! Why would a Pagan bother?), but I have quite a lot of respect for Mary. Many come down hard upon this female figure in Christian faith, but I have found her to be one of the greatest of women figures within Christianity.
While studying the Romanesque era, I came upon great paintings of that timespan, and realized that Mary was truely a significant figure. She said "yes" to her god and gave birth to the son of god. That is one heck of a burden to place on a young woman, not to mention an unwed mother to boot. She could have been put to death by stoning, yet chose to follow the call of her god. Pretty impressive. She had to have done an excellent job raising the child since Jesus turned out to be a good citizen of his community. He was a rebel, but I bet he learned that from Mary! In Romanesqe art, Mary was raised to the same stature as Jesus. In fact, the church condoned artwork that showed Jesus crowning Mary as Queen of Heaven and making her his equal. Too bad this aspect has been downplayed in todays society. I bet more women would stay within the church if they realized they had a really powerful woman on their side. The kicker is...Mary redeemed womankind! No longer would women be condemned for Eve's stupid apple. Again, this was downplayed and pretty much removed from Christian thinking. Too bad. Here was this pious woman, made Queen of Heaven and Jesus' equal, who redeems womankind for the church (all sanctioned by the church!!!), and what happens? The church (who would not exist without her!) demotes her to just a symbol for quiet and meek women to follow. Sad...
Mary was the perfect mother. She always had time to listen to the children of Earth. Even if god was too busy (what a thought!), Mary never was. She could even interceed on humanities behalf! Talk about power! Imagine having the ear of the almighty himself! Dressed in white and blue, her image alone causes calmness and comfort, and many people pray to her for help. Her rosary has even been reborn into the Pagan rosary, and I bet Her prayer is better known than the Lord's Prayer. All in all, a truely remarkable and glorious woman.
Hail Mary!
Full of Grace
The lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus
Holy Mary, mother of god, pray for us sinners
Now, and at the hour of our death
Amen
To flip through the pages of my BOS faster...
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Brightest of Blessings