Humble Pie?

May is the month in which our relationship with out Blessed Virgin is particularly highlighted. It is a time in which we can honour her in more particular and focussed manner. It is also a time in which we can look at the role model she gives us as a Mother to us and as a woman.
 As a country we used to be the most dedicated to venerating Our Blessed Mother, but this all fell by the wayside somewhat during the Reformation. Though I find it hard to see why you would not want to look to Mary for some guidance and insight into our Faith, not least because she is the Mother of Our Lord. Protestant theologians would say that beyond this relationship, she has no further worth than any other human being as she is not complicit in the decision. In other words it was all God's work, she had no choice. A more Catholic point of view would be that she had a choice and she chose to do God's work when asked. The relationship therefore becomes a deeper one, as she has chosen to take part in the Salvation narrative. For me she is indispensable and essential as part of the narrative.
Meek, humble, obedient and Self-effacing, these are the words used to describe Mary most often. They are also often used to demonstrate that women were outranked by men in those times. She did not embody these qualities out of choice but more because it was what was expected of her. Therefore demonstrating just how much men have manipulated women into submissiveness throughout the history of the Church. This argument over looks one crucial thing. Our Blessed Virgin did indeed embody all of these qualities, but so did her son, Our Lord. They are qualities that we are all called to follow as disciples of Christ. Far from undermining women they bring her onto a level pegging with all Christians. A second point I would like to make is, up until this point in history there had been Goddesses and Priestesses. They were however always closely linked to sexuality and fertility, when God looked in favour upon Our Blessed Virgin he removed all trace of her being worshipped, this is true. He also though gave her a dignity not afforded to previous female deities and Priestesses, he removed the sexual element completely. God embraced her as a human being, not as a sexual being. He embraced the qualities of what makes a woman, a woman.
I think far from undermining women, Our Blessed Virgin brings a quiet dignity to womankind and a role for them within the Church. It may not be as the Priest, but her role is just as valuable and indispensable. And without doubt a most dignified and empowering one in the context of her time. It is maybe something we should all reflect on a little bit more during May. That we are not called to self celebration or glorification, but that we are all called to a meek, humble, self -effacing and obedient service in the footsteps of Christ and his Blessed Mother Mary.