The Canon of Mary (Pitis Sophia) and the Canon of Peter (The ‘chosen’ Bible)
In my old age I am discovering things, pieces of history and/or legend, I can only wish I had been aware of as a young man. It is obvious to me I would have been a better man, a wiser man, and definitely a more balanced man. The best I can do now is to spark an interest in younger men to learn what I did not. At least, be exposed to alternative legends and truths. I have some anger that the key teachers in my life were so narrow minded in their perspective. But, then, they were mislead or lied to as well.
Where to begin?
When I was a teenager the first of my female Catholic cousins entered the world of marriage. Before the priest declared the happy couple ‘Man and wife’ the young woman made her way over to the lurking statue of the White Virgin Mary. Once there she placed flowers at the feet of Mary and prayed for forgiveness that she had chosen marriage over being a virgin. Under the ‘Canon of Peter’ the woman was actually regarded as an adulteress. An adulteress because she chose to be married to a man versus becoming a nun who chose to be married to Jesus.
Let it be known that my rebellious sister declined the opportunity to ask the statue of White Mary for forgiveness. Already as a student at Marquette University she had been told by a White Jesuit priest, ‘If you are in danger of being raped it is better that you jump out a window and take your own life rather than to be, as an unmarried woman, defiled by a man.
The Canon of Peter was chosen because it stressed the patriarchy and kept women in their place. Whereas, the Canon of Mary Magdalene where Mary is viewed as an apostle of Jesus, held that men and women were equal in the eyes of the Lord and all that that inferred. (I recommend reading The Cult of the Black Virgin, E. Begg, 1985)
…. let’s move to the land of the seeming non-sequitur (my favorite recently). The Black Madonna has a long and interesting history. Statues of the Black Madonna have dark or black complexion. Kali Ma of the Hindu. Sara La Kali loved by the Romani and Sinti. Black Madonna having her origin in Africa, Isis as an example. Another legend is that she came to earth on a black meteorite found in the Amazon River. A black female stone is a key aspect aspect of the Ka’ba. I could go on …
The Black Madonna is tied to the Canon of Mary much more so than to the White Mary of the Canon of Peter. The Black Madonna represents the earth itself. Represents life, death and transformation. The Black Madonna represents Mother Nature. Balance. There are no apologies necessary for women when it comes to the Black Madonna but as for males… penance and apology is a necessity. The patriarchy as represented by White Mary has destroyed the feminine, women, two-spirited and Mother Nature.
Should I leave it here for today? I think so. There is much to contemplate. Much to share. Much that the Black Madonna has to offer young men. Ma Xiaolian’s and my book will bring the Black Madonna into focus for men.
Talk soon.
Very good topic and writing! I am also being taken into the weaving of this. My writings and presentations are about changing “group mind,” and how religion harms. I wrote to a friend today that it’s not so much about embracing news ideas but escaping or walking away from the old ones that cause harm. It takes courage. We are wired to follow group mind over many many generations. I have a lot to learn about how group mind is established and I hope to continue to help.