The question of Mary

[Starsoul]

I have had a question in my mind for sometime now, hope somebody can answer.

What is the status of Maryam (or Mary) the mother of Jesus in christianity?
In the sense that I see her painting on the walls and churches, with a loose garment covering her head to toe, I want to know how religiously she is taken by the practising christians. Is she to be followed by the christian women as an example?

Also, do the nuns cover themselves the same way as is depicted of Mary, in order to follow her?
Is it only binding on nuns to cover as such? If so, why. And why are christian women not to follow the dress ethic of Mary (if it is a dress ethic, excuse my lack of understanding please).

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Mary is depicted the way she is from Tradition, and it is how people in the Early middle ages thought she would have dressed. There is no authentic picture of her.

Nuns wear a middle ages style Garments. These are highly standardised with every part having meaning and named. Modern nuns do not necessarily wear the Habit.

Mary's dress is always shown as blue and differs substantially from that of most nuns.

She is highly regarded in most Christian churches as a Saint. in the Roman and Orthodox she is venerate and as a channel for prayer. Other Churches pay her little attention at all.

 

[ninerbuff]

In the catholic church, she is idolized to the extent that services (like marriage) have a distinct prayer in her name. In some countries, "weeping" statues of mary are worshipped for the healing powers.

 

[wordmagnifiedabovenames]

Is she to be followed by the christian women as an example?

There are a few reasons to follow her example, in so far as she was a woman who had faith and was obedient to God. That could be said about a few women in the Bible though. Her last recorded words in the 66 books of the Bible are found in John 2, in which she tells people to do as Jesus says to do. It could be argued that this too is a good example to follow. Although she appears in other places, her words are not recorded. It's possible that she is what Paul would call a saint in the book of Ephesians, although I believe it's up to God to decide who qualifies as a "saint," not the church. Personally, I don't know if she's in Heaven or not (although I think it's likely that she is, there's only a certain few people who I'm 100% sure of.) After her last words are recorded in John 2, she could have believed anything, rejected God and not gone to Heaven. As it's not certain that she's actually in Heaven, (and because Jesus said that all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Him) I see no reason to entrust prayers to her.

I do not know why nuns dress the way they do, it's not something I've studied.

 

[ZooGirl02]

You will find varying opinions on Mary amongst various Christians. Catholics officially believe that Mary is not just the Mother of God but that she was also conceived without sin and lead a sinless life. Not only that but they believe she was assumed into Heaven and crowned queen of heaven and earth.

Other Christians will say that she was just like any other woman, including in sinfulness, with the exception that she was Jesus' mother.

And then there are other Christians who will say that she was a blessed woman but that she was still a sinner. They might say that she was virtuous and did not sin anywhere near as much as the common person because of her relationship as Jesus' mother.

 

[Jordan St. Francis]

For Catholics, Mary is the most important saint; a perfect example of the Christian life lived out in obedience to God, of Christian participation in the Trinitarian life and of the consummation of the life of faith.

She is to be modelled by both men and women. She is also prayed to frequently. In the Latin Church, the most common devotion to Mary is the Holy Rosary.

 

[Marble]

I would like to know what is known about the historical Mary.
Does anybody know?

 

[Jordan St. Francis]

Historically, it is almost possible know, save that she was the mother of Jesus. Her mention in the Gospels is brief. Tradition hands on that she died in the accompany of the Apostle John in Patmos and subsequently assumed into heaven. These sources are too late to meet historical credentials.

 

[Vendetta]

I know in the Catholic latino culture they worship her. I don't see why, she is just a vessel

 

[Jordan St. Francis]

In Catholic belief she is not a mere vessel. She gives her flesh to God and the Son is made man from her. For this reason she is the "glistening gate of heaven": God enters human nature through her, with her consent. In that way, salvation (Christ Himself) comes to us through Mary, a humble, poor maiden.

Eve helped to stain human nature by taking the word of the serpent and birthing sin and death. The Virgin helps to heal human nature by taking the Word of God and birthing life and redemption.

So in taking Jesus as our brother we also take Mary as our mother.

 

[Vendetta]

In Catholic belief she is not a mere vessel. She gives her flesh to God and the Son is made man from her. For this reason she is the "glistening gate of heaven": God enters human nature through her, with her consent. In that way, salvation (Christ Himself) comes to us through Mary, a humble, poor maiden.

Eve helped to stain human nature by taking the word of the serpent and birthing sin and death. The Virgin helps to heal human nature by taking the Word of God and birthing life and redemption.

So in taking Jesus as our brother we also take Mary as our mother.

No disrespect but if God made me and put me on an entirely new planet where beings and animals spoke to me, I might listen to a snake too. I have no relation to Mary. She is Jewish, I am black so there couldn't possibly be no mother son, or brother sister relationship. No genetic lineage. On top of that I cannot relate to her, nor Jesus except the sayings and deeds. If Jesus is truly God in flesh Mary doesn't need to be worshipped. I would rather worship the Creator of such a vast and.marvelous universe than a.human

 

[Jordan St. Francis]

I'm not going to argue with you about your personal convictions. I only intend to show that veneration of Mary has well established reasons behind it from the perspective of Christian who firmly believe in the incarnation of God the Son in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth.

We do not believe that Jesus relates to us foremost by his sayings and deeds- unless by deeds you mean his incarnation and passion by which he took humanity into his Heart and bore us, in his body, through and past death and into new life.

 

[Starsoul]

we must keep in mind that this is a DIR and according to forum rules, we can only discuss religions respectfully here without indulging in debates.

I thank everybody who has attempted to answer to me. I would like to understand this more, if this concept has been described in the Bible, NT or OT, with references.