THE NAMES OF MARY (MOTHER OF GOD): A POLYTHEISTIC VIEW

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 In “Birthing the Holy,” Christine Valters Paintner lists the names of Mary, the Mother of God. To the Polytheistic eye, these titles of Mary speak to Her being a Goddess. The names remind me of the many titles given to Fortuna or Venus.

 

However, in the Monotheistic religions, Mary is not Divine but is higher than the angels and others. According to Catholic dogma, Mary, the Blessed Virgin receives these titles because of her “God given position as the Mother of God.” Meanwhile, Mary is venerated in Islam as the Mother of Jesus. As Maryam, Mary is the only woman named in the Qur’an. Among her titles are Raki’ah: “She Who Bows Down to Allah in Worship,” and Sajidah, “She Who Prostrates to Allah in Worship.”

 

As a Polytheist, I realize that Monotheists believe that there is only one God, and therefore other beings are not divine. To me, Mary is a Goddess, who is more than “Mother of God” or “Blessed Virgin.” Reading through these titles, I see that She is a multifaceted Goddess who is close to humans, and desires to help them.

 

Titles of Mary:

 

Queen of the Holy Rosary: She Who Guides Us in Prayer

Queen of Angels: She Who Is Seated among the Angels

Queen of All Saints: She Who Companions the Mystics

 

Virgin: She Who is Whole unto Herself

Untier of Knots: She Who Loosens Constriction

Mustafia: She Who is Chosen (Note 1)

Gate of Heaven: She Who is the Portal

Hodegetria: She Who Shows the Way (Note 2)

Star of the Sea: She Who Helps Us Navigate

Morning Star: She Who Awakens the World

Seat of Wisdom: She Who Knows

Mother of Good Counsel: She Who Supports Our Discernment

 

Vessel of Grace: She Who is the Alchemical Container

Our Lady of Silence: She Who Calls Us to Listen to Another Voice

Mary of the Cell: She Who Retreats into Quiet

Our Lady of the Underworld: She Who Companions Our Descent

Mother of Sorrows: She Who Allows the River of Grief to Flow

Mary the Air We Breathe: She Who Infuses Our Every Breath

Mary as Burning Bush: She Who Stands on Holy Ground

Life-Giving Spring: She Who Gushes like a Fountain

Greenest Branch: She Who Brings Forth God’s Greening Power

 

Woman Clothed with the Sun: She Who is Woman of the Apocalypse

Theotokos: She Who Gave Birth to God (Note 3)

Mystical Rose: She Who Blossoms Forth

Madonna Protectress: She Who Creates a Boundary

Mirror of Justice: She Who Lifts Up All Those on the Margins

Queen of Heaven: She Who Claims Her Power

Queen of Peace: She Who Blesses Reconciliation

Cause of Our Joy: She Who Is the Source of Delight

Tree of Life: She Who Roots Down and Reaches Out

 

Mother of Mercy: She Who Lavishes Tenderness

 

Notes:

Note 1. “Mustafia” is an Arabic title. Among her other titles are Qanitah: “Spending Childhood in the Temple of Prayer,” Siddiqah: “She Who Confirms the Truth,” and Sa’imah: “She Who Fasts.”

Note 2. “Hodegetria” is from the Eastern Orthodox Church. Icons show Mary pointing to the Christ Child as the Source of Salvation.

Note 3. “Theotokos” is from the Greek Orthodox. It translates to “God-bearer.”