Women in the Church Final Exam Review Sheet—Fall Semester 2012 block D
Matching—Multiple choice—Essay

High and Low Christology

Define and know examples from each category * (full divine and full human) * HIGH AND LOW PAGE/HANDOUT * High titles: Messiah, Lord, Savior, Lamb of God, Christ, Son of God * Low titles: brother, friend, prophet, rabbi, teacher

Immaculate Conception (meaning & date) Virgin Birth * Immaculate conception: December 8th * Mary conceived without sin in her mother’s womb- Ann * Virgin birth: Jesus from Mary

Define “Incarnation” * God becoming “flesh”/human in the person of Jesus

The Re-interpretation of Mary Magdalene’s Identity

* Define the term “conflation” with regard to her identity including examples

* Review the importance of Luke 8:1-3 with regard to her identity and other women mentioned

* Significance and possible explanations for “7 demons:”

* St. Gregory the Great’s role in her confused identity

* Origin and meaning of the title “apostle to the apostles”

HERE:

Definition of Conflation * Conflate: to join or merge two or more things into a unified whole * mix things/ to fuse or bring things together

Why did Mary Magdalene get labeled a sinner/prostitute? * “Conflation” with the unnamed sinful women * The one who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair * The anonymous adulteress who Jesus saved from being stoned by the crowd * The anonymous Samaritan woman at the well

Conflated with other “Mary’s” * +Mary (“Miriam” or “Mariam” in Aramaic) was one of the most common names for women at the time of Jesus. * Mary of Bethany (Martha/Lazarus’ Sister)—perfume bottle—studies as Jesus’ feet * Mary of Nazareth (Jesus’s Mother”) * The “other Mary” at the cross

* St. Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) finalized the conflation in sermons * The Golden Legend, in the Middle Ages (1260 – 1275 AD), spun stories to illustrate her sinfulness because people wanted devotional literature about the Saints’ lives

Artwork also depicts her as a “sexual sinner” / seductress * Cleavage * Nakedness * Redhead * Posed provocatively * Identifies her with the anonymous women sinners (Simon’s house, adulteress stoning)

Why is she often depicted with a perfume bottle? * Conflation with Mary of Bethany who anointed Jesus before his death with perfumed oils * (This was Martha & Lazarus’ sister in the town of Bethany John 12: 1)

What do the Gospels say about Mary Magdalene? * Mary Magdalene is often listed first among women mentioned by the Evangelists (gospel writers) * This conveys her importance in among early Christians – they can’t edit her out of the stories or ignore her. * “Cured of 7 demons” by Jesus (Luke 8:1-3) * Named first and written clearly—popular and well-known * Other women who provided/financed Jesus’ ministry

Symbolism of “7” / What are demons? * Perfection * Completeness * Wholeness * VERSUS: * Diseases / Addictions * Mental Illness * Epilepsy / Seizures * Mary Mag is completely possessed by ailments and as a result of meeting Jesus, she is perfectly healed * Acting differently than society dictates * Anti-social behavior, independence, rebellion * Things that cannot be explained are called demons

* Mary Magdalene is a faithful disciple at the foot of the Cross in all 4 Gospels… * The Early Church called Mary “Apostle to the Apostles”… * The 4 Gospels have her at ALL the Resurrection Accounts * Jesus /angels messengers commission Mary to tell the apostles about the Resurrection. * “Apostle” means one who is “sent out.”

"Apostle to the Apostles" * Because Mary is the first to “witness” * At the Resurrection of Jesus, and Jesus “commissions” her to go out and tell the other apostles about her experience