Mulieris Dignitatem Flashcards
Woman-Mother of God/Theotokos (God-bearer):
Pope John Paul II explained that by accepting the role of theotokos (God-bearer) Mary played a central part in salvation. The incarnation (and thus salvation) are dependent upon Jesus being born of a human mother.
‘A woman is to be found at the centre of this salvific event. The self-revelation of God…’
- Thus Mary attained the ‘supernatural elevation to union with God’ that all humans eventually hope to achieve in the afterlife. To this extent she is an ‘archetype’, a representation of what humanity can become.
‘Therefore she is truly the Mother of God, because motherhood concerns the whole person, not just the body.’
We can elaborate on this theme. Mary did not just give birth to Jesus, she presumably looked after him in his infancy as any mother would do
The image and likeness of God:
Genesis:
“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them”
. From the very beginning they appear as a “unity of the two”,
Anthropomorphic language
Christianity tends to talk about God in male terms. However, God is immaterial, spiritual, non-physical and therefore has no biological gender. Jesus, the incarnate form of God does have gender but non-incarnate God does not.
-bible employs femlae descriptions too - “As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (66: 13)
Eve - Mary:
Eve embodies human natures original sin
Mary saves human nature from this through incarnation
The Proto-evangelium (God’s statement to the Serpent in the Garden of Eden about how the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head and the Serpent shall bruise the seed’s heel):
In Genesis 3:15, it states,
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, KJV)
- ‘Bruising of the seed’s heel’
The bruising of the heel of the seed of the woman is almost universally taken to mean the crucifixion of Christ. Satan is prophesied to bruise Jesus’ heel. A punimsnet of Eve original sin
Pope John Paull II discusses how Mary is presented as second Eve who undoes Eve’s action. Eve brought death into the world by her disobedience, Mary brought salvation through her obedience. Both Mary and Eve are archetypes, representing humanity rather than just themselves.
Jesus Christ
Many women are mentioned in the gospels:
those who he healed e.g. ‘Simon’s mother-in-law, who “lay sick with a fever” (Mk 1:30)’
those who journeyed with him ‘they “provided for them out of their means”. The Gospel names Joanna, who was the wife of Herod’s steward, Susanna and “many others” (cf. Lk 8:1-3)’
- Pope John Paul II commented specifically about Jesus’ treatment of the women caught in adultery, Jesus’ reinterpretation of the law on adultery (to look lustfully is as bad as committing adultery) and his friendship with Mary and Martha.
Motherhood
The woman’s motherhood constitutes a special “part” in this shared parenthood, and the more demanding part.
- His argument was that women are involved in the creation of a child in a much more physical and intimate way than men are
In Pope John Paul II’s view, it was not ‘limiting’ or derogatory to identify the female essence with motherhood (though many feminists would disagree) because being a mother is a noble task. In parenthood ‘The spouses share in the creative power of God!’ and woman is privileged to be the one more intimately involved in the process.
