tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post4101469010685015111..comments2023-10-08T07:07:36.538-04:00Comments on Search the Sea: Immaculate Conception: Something to Think AboutGannet Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374279595560691174noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-75183229951578107412009-12-10T07:45:47.262-05:002009-12-10T07:45:47.262-05:00I, too, have some question as to the doctrines aro...I, too, have some question as to the doctrines around Mary. <br /><br />But, I have no problem with the way she draws me to her in meditative and prayerful ways. I have found meditating on Mary's position to be helpful and comforting in times of deep distress, especially relating to my children.<br /><br />Mary watched, without blinking, her son die a terrible death. The strength, courage and love that it takes for a mother to do that is something that many of us turn away from. We turn away from the awfulness of addiction, we turn away from the awfulness of suicide, we turn away from the intensity of the mother who watches.<br /><br />Because my experiences tell me that just watching is sometimes all I can do. Much as I would like to do something, anything, to alleviate the pain or change the course of events - I cannot.<br /><br />And it can be a terrible calling to be the one who watches.<br /><br />To me, that is Mary's gift. To me and to mothers who suffer. <br /><br />You may want to look up some of the contemporary "Black Madonna" literature -- Sue Monk Kidd, Marion Woodman, and here is a link with some others: http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/BlackMadonna_bib.html<br /><br />I find this body of Marian writing to be quite accessible and much more fruitful to my own spiritual path. And I'm a Catholic. :)Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05147416487171740144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-45698995480577120932009-12-09T09:27:09.976-05:002009-12-09T09:27:09.976-05:00We learned on a trip to Rome with our daughters a ...We learned on a trip to Rome with our daughters a few years ago that the doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary IS part of Catholic theology and a relatively new part at that--announced by Pope Pius IX as a dogma in 1854.<br /><br />Daughter Babs was astounded when the docent at the Vatican explained this and demanded to know the Catholic church then also believed that Mary's mother was immaculately conceived and HER mother, etc etc back to Eve. <br /><br />Almost had an international incident on our hands!<br /><br />On another note, I like your idea that maybe it means she (and we) are born with whatever it is we will need for the life that is ahead of us.Jody Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08031378214797420014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13080538.post-68444911000140401492009-12-09T06:43:23.841-05:002009-12-09T06:43:23.841-05:00Would it help, to be without sin? ... there may b...Would it help, to be without sin? ... there may be a sin or two I could live without having on my shouldersStratozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10148600260976577216noreply@blogger.com