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The tradition of Mary as Priest


Main documents Supporting Documents
General Introduction
The devotion to Mary Priest is a latent tradition that implies that women can be ordained.
‘The priesthood of Mary’
Article in the Tablet (Dec. 1999) that outlines what is at stake
Historical Survey
Chronological list of more than 90 theologians and writers whose texts are found on this web site.
Gallery of Images
Illustrations of traditional art in which Mary is presented as a priest.

Throughout the centuries the faithful have felt a devotion to Mary as priest.

They intuitively saw, with their 'Catholic sense', that Mary shared in Jesus' priesthood more than anyone else.

Implicitly their devotion contained the strong but usually unspoken conviction that Mary, though a woman, could easily have been ordained a priest, as much as any man.

This conviction about Mary's priestly status has consequences for the ordination of women. Read on!

 


Why was Mary considered a Priest?
The reasons given in tradition for hailing Mary as a priest.
Mary as a Sacrificial Priest
Mary’s participation in Jesus’ sacrifice, the main ground for acknowledging her priesthood.
Mary’s relationship to priests
Priests looked upon Mary as a model for their own ministry, especially regarding the Eucharist.

Traditional prayers to Mary Priest.
The Presentation in the Temple
The text from St. Luke’s Gospel which was the basis for much commentary on Mary offering Jesus
The Sanctuary in the Temple of Jerusalem
An explanation of its sacred objects and places.
Jesus’ sacrificial death
The satisfaction theory presupposed in many ancient theological writings
Three articles to correct mistakes in the ancient satisfaction theory:
Is God a dictator?
Did God want to see blood?
Did God demand bloody satisfaction?
Mary and Holy Orders
A description of how ancient writers solved the conflict between Mary’s priesthood and ‘the obstacle of her sex’
Mary and the priesthood of all the believers
The common priesthood of all the faithful implies openness of all to Holy Orders
Related articles:
‘Mary, the Virgin Priest’ by Dr. Tina Beattie. An excellent analysis of the tradition from a feminist perspective.
Re-imagining Mary at Christmas
by Prof. Kim Power. New images to replace distortions of the past.


Overview of documents in this section
Home Page?


Tradition
Mary - why a priest? Theologians and writers Picture gallery Mary and Holy Orders Mary as sacrificial priest Mary, the model of priests
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