Large Group Discussion of Young Readings 10:10 10:30am
What are some of the feminist approaches to reading Biblical texts (Reader, pp. 207-10)? Are these useful tools for challenging traditional interpretations?
Mary Daly argues that if God is male, then the Male is God (Reader, p.211). What are some possible solutions to the androcentric language problem in Christianity?
Young argues that Biblical texts have histories of interpretations (Reader, pp. 207-208). May of these interpretations over the centuries have worked against women. Feminist scholars, like Elizabeth Johnson, say that any Biblical interpretations needs to be evaluated in terms of how well it matches up to the basic tenets of Christianity. What does this involve?
Black Madonnas 10:30-10:40
Black Madonnas - Facts Part of resurgence of devotion to Virgin Mary in Middle Ages, particularly 12 th & 13th centuries Over 450 statues throughout the world Most in Europe, particularly France (180), Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Poland A few in the Americas Some found in cathedrals (e.g., Chartres); others in remote churches, chapels, shrines (e.g., Puy de Dome in the Pyrenees, Our Lady of Vassiviere)
Our Lady of the Pillar Zaragosa, 40 AD (Oldest Black Madonna in Europe)
Black Madonnas - Facts Some statues found on sites of the ancient goddesses, usual natural settings a cave, field, or river Often contained relics associated with Mary Sometimes associated with miracles and apparitions Tremendously popular pilgrimage sites in Middle Ages; resurgence of interest 20 th century
Our Lady of Vassivière
Black Madonnas - Facts Sources: Byzantine and Mediterranean mosaics and manuscript illuminations Images brought back from the East by the Crusaders of dark Isis, Cybele, Artemis of Ephesus Some scholars believe that the memory of ancient goddess statues influenced some Medieval sculptors
Artemis/Diana of Ephesus
Black Madonnas - Facts Small (3 or less) carved wooden statues of Mary and baby Jesus, sometimes standing, usually on a throne Mary s face: impassive to tender; looking into the distance; often wears a crown Mary as Theotokos (e.g., Our Lady of Vladimir) but also compassionate Mater Dolorosa (e.g., Madonna of Marsat) Baby: a small-man-child making a sign of blessing (e.g., Our Lady of Meymac (Correze)
Mary as Theotokos Turkey
Black Madonnas The Black Virgin of Meymac The Egyptian Notre Dame de Marsat
Black Madonnas - Facts Most distinctive feature: faces dark-skinned Explanations: Accidental: Paint darkened by smoke, passage of time Intentional: Painted black or carved in ebony E.g. Black Virgin of Einsiedeln, Black Virgins of Chartres, Montserrat Some pagan statues used to represent Jesus and Mary E.g., Demeter and Kroe in Enna; Isis and Horace
Our Black Lady of Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Mother/Child Goddess as Models Demeter and Persephone Isis and Horus
Our Lady from Under the Earth (Notre-Dame-de-Sous-Terre)
Our Lady of the Pillar, The Black Virgin Chartres
Black Madonnas Mystical, Alchemist Associations Associated with alchemy and the Kabbala Wisdom (Gnostic influences) Shekinah Associated with esoteric initiatory aspects of the Order of the Templar Mary Magdalene
Black Virgin of Chatillon
Black Madonna of Montserrat
Black Madonnas Great Mother Goddess Associations Believed to come from nature, to have been found by river, in a cave associated with the watery or dark chthonic origins of mother goddesses and with the powers of nature Associated with the moon darkness and light Associated with the earth Associated with fecundity of the Goddess
Black Madonnas Great Mother Goddess Associations Scholarship confirms an iconographical and cultic continuity between pagan goddesses and the Black Virgins Contemporary studies focus on links between the archetype of the sacred feminine and the Black Madonnas Medieval whispers of the Sacred Feminine
Black Madonnas Great Mother Goddess Associations Church s Response: Tolerance: some link Black Madonna to Wisdom in Song of Solomon: I am dark but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem Hostility: Toward pagan aspects of Black Madonnas and to the cults they ve given rise to (and the people they attract) Deny significance of her blackness In some villages, priests deny one ever existed in a particular locale or replace it or repaint it By contrast, some villages protect their Black Madonnas ferociously, limiting access and locking them up
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa, Poland
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Extremadura)
Black Madonna in Vitina - Letnica Kosovo
Madonna and Child of Soweto
Black Venus, 1965/7, New York. Niki de Saint Phalle
These images of the Black Madonna were extremely powerful in their time and continue to be so today. People seek out these statues and images and feel a special connection to them. What qualities in the Black Madonna do you think speak to these people? To you?