Celebrating Mary Today: A Heartfelt Chat on Faith and Tradition
- AndreaGrace
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
In some Christian faith traditions, Mary, Jesus’ mother, is celebrated on August 15. Some oral traditions maintain that she was “assumed” – her body carried to heaven. This is what the Catholic Church celebrates today.
Over the past few years, I, Rev. AndreaGrace, have been exploring Mary as well as the “Divine Feminine” side of God that is vibrant in many faith traditions. (In the Judeo-Christian scriptures, it says that humans were made in God’s image – male and female – so God must have a feminine side, right?!
What I've learned is that...
Many feminine images for God in The Bible were obliterated when original terms for God were translated at “Lord.”
There are many Catholic saints who have written through the centuries about God’s maternal nature.
In Judaism, “Shekhinah” has a feminine connotation and refers to the Divine “dwelling” of God in people, places and things. She is associated with the color of blue, as is Mary.
Throughout Catholic history, as The Church put priests in charge of prayer gatherings, deleted the feminine side of God and created a male hierarchy akin to the Roman Empire and feudal systems, common people gathered informally and turned their hearts to Mary, an approachable, interceding Mother and Queen.
Many spiritual seekers consider Mary, Jesus’ mother, the embodiment of the Divine Feminine, God who took on human form.
For generations, my family has been devoted to Mary, trusting ourselves to her care and asking her to pray with us.
How do I connect Mama God (The Divine Feminine) and Mama Mary?
Last year, when I was a writer-in-residence at the Benedictine Sisters Monastery in Erie, I was led to sit in front of this statute of Mary. She and I, well, we had a conversation….
Oh Mary
Miriam of Nazareth
You who carried a miracle
God-Made-Human
You are called “Madonna”
which I translate as the “Mother of All Women”
Ma – meaning “mother”
Donna – meaning “woman”
Is it possible that You are
God-Made-Human-In-A Woman
like so many Spirit-filled women believe?
You know I like to think about a continuum
with our “human” on one side and
“holy” on the other side.
Where do you fall on the continuum?
YES – you were near the “holy” end of the continuum
as was Jesus
It’s been said that both of you were
carried home to the heavenly banquet by angels
The Jewish people write of Shekhinah-
The Divine Feminine
God’s dwelling among God’s People
The Cosmic Body
Yes – Oh Madonna You are a cosmic body that carried a cosmic body
A Divine Human
who loved and lost
who experienced the pain of a sword that pierced your heart…
of miracles and resurrections
You who knew conflict and longings
completion and motivation
redemption
Redemption
To bring back
You bring generations of Catholics back to a loving God
Through You, Oh Madonna-Shekhinah
humans can experience the Divine-Human connection
that encompasses all forms of life
You – The Lady dressed in blue –
Shekhinah’s color
Oh Madonna - You are also Shaddai-
Shaddai – which means the “God with Breasts”
Your human breasts that nursed Jesus-God-Made-Human
Your spiritual breasts that provide
everything for all of us who cry to you
Oh Madonna – You are also Binah
Binah - the wisdom of mature womanhood
like the image of Bro. Mickey on my wall where you have grey hair
like the statue in my room of the
woman with strong beasts, robust hips and a Divine Womb of love and life for all
And so YES
You are for me
Madonna-Shekinah
God-Made Human in a Woman
And I am invited to grow in your image
as I wear the Miraculous Medal on my wrist
as I wear the Praying Madonna pendant on my neck
as I wear this hydrangea shawl we knit together
here at this monastery
and there in Italy
My prayer, Madonna-Shekinah:
To be present
To bring your goodness into this world
Amen so be it.
PS - A year later, I realize how "being present" and "bringing goodness into this world" have been such a focus for me over the past 13 months! Answered prayers! Thank you, Madonna!
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