Holy Mother

I wish Mary was more recognized in Protestant faiths.

I grew up Southern Baptist (how this differs from ordinary Baptists, I don't know). We never talked about Mary except at Christmas time, when we were told the story of the virgin birth. In fact, Mary was sort of invisible in that church. Even when we acknowledged her, it  was in passing, a mere mention of the flesh and blood girl who gave birth to a savior. It always struck me as a little odd- to leave such an important woman out of the Christ story?

I have since drifted (no, run full speed) from the Baptist faith, and now I am definitely somewhere between Protestant and Catholic. What does that make me? Probably an Episcopalian. I have been attending an Episcopal church and I love it. I'll explain why in another post. But let's get back to Mary.

Growing up Baptist, I was taught never to think of Mary as anyone important. I was told about those "crazy Catholics" who prayed and worshiped to statues of Mary and saints innumerable; who used priests in confessionals to absolve them of sin, rather than going straight to the source, as we Protestants are taught. It was all pretty scary to me at the time. I was imagining some sort of cult-like organization who fell to their knees before gaunt carvings of Christ on the cross and woeful figures of Mary.

It wasn't until after leaving the Baptist faith that I started really thinking about Mary and her role in the story of Christianity. I wondered about her- who she was, what made her so special, what made her decide to accept the role of Blessed Mother of the Christ child? How did she live, raising a savior? How did she mother, why was she chosen by God? So I researched. And I am still researching today. I read anything I can get my hands on about Mary and her story.

She is special to me. Special because she was not only the vessel that brought forth Christ into this world, but also she was the very first disciple of Jesus. His very first believer. The mother of our fellowship. The mother of our church. She was with Jesus through almost every step of his journey. How can such a woman be denied acknowledgment when her role was so magnificent? In what way does including Mary in the Christian practice jeopardize or demean Jesus or God? I don't think it does! I think Mary belongs in the story of Christ. I think God chose her for a reason, and that Jesus himself wanted us to call her "Mother".