Mary Speaks; her Image and Spiritual Legacy

Advent is a time of Awakening, the word itself means “arrival”. Four weeks leading up to Christmas serves as a period for reflections on hope, peace, love, and joy while awaiting the emergence of more wisdom in our world. Most of us will agree that we are living in turbulent times. Mary Jane Miller will offer three Monday presentations at 10 am on the many aspects of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Who is she? How did she evolve throughout history and in theology? And Where might we find her today?

Miller's presentations are provocative and, at times, humorous. For three decades, her approach to sacred art has morphed in many ways, but she consistently concludes that love is the way, the light, and the truth. The images she presents of Mary are ancient and contemporary, interpretations of the same woman with various messages. Mary is by far the most common image in Christianity; she represents eternal love born in her womb. She embodies the church, a physical place we step into for wisdom and solace.

The spirit of Mary is woven throughout the imagery around San Miguel and across Mexico. Join us on December 1, 8, and 15 at St. Paul's Church on Calle Cardo. She is the Virgin Mary, the Guadelupana -whether in homes, on buses and taxis, in places we travel, on altars, windows, clothing, or even, as I once saw, on a bar of soap! The lectures are free, and we will pass the plate for donations.

Mary imagery began in the 4th century and has evolved over the next thousand years, with ongoing development. Motherhood is archetypal; no one on the planet has no mother, and it is through motherhood that we have the gift of habitual love ingrained in our DNA. Everything on the planet reproduces itself.

Peace be with you.