My post yesterday was on the true definition of virtue and merit. This is the second half of a very simple to understand theological response to the virtue of Mary that I will address with two brief statements.

Eve’s vice

In the opening chapters of Genesis we find the account of the fall of Adam and Eve. The serpent comes to Eve and tempts her to eat the of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She consents and then offers the fruit also to Adam. The New Testament tells us “as in Adam all men sinned.” 

It is very obvious from the account given that through the vice of Eve, Adam also took and ate. This action caused the fall of mankind into original sin (i.e. – the sin of Adam). So through Eve, sin came to man in the person of Adam. 

Interesting to note the blame was officially placed at Adam’s feet in the Bible. I know that most protestants would agree that by lack of Eve’s “virtue,”  sin entered the world through Adam. This is a theologically sound statement.

Mary’s virtue

Let us apply this same technique in the New Testament. The angel appears to Mary, he prays for (asks) a request. (Oh yes, Gabriel did. An angel asked a human for an answer to the divine will.) She responds, “Let it be done to me according to thy word.” Her fiat. This was not a divine rape – God gave her the choice and she responded willingly.

Once again, this time through virtue instead of vice,  Mary obeyed the Almighty God. This action brought forth the salvation of mankind from sin (i.e. – the sin of Adam). So through Mary, salvation came to man in the person of Christ.

This reasoning can apply to Eve but when we apply it to Mary it becomes blasphemy? I think not – and the Church doesn’t think so either. 

Until my next post -” through Mary to Jesus” – God love you!

Image credit: Mary and Eve, by Sister Grace Remington, OCSO, from Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa. Copyright to Sister Grace Remington.