Mary as Nurturer, a New Model for Contemporary Times
Date of Award
5-1-2025
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Theology
Department
Department of Religious Studies
Advisor/Chair
Neomi De Anda
Abstract
The theological significance of Mary as nurturer is often overlooked in historical and theological narratives. This aspect of the tradition merits attention because it brings Mary closer to humanity, positioning her as one who walks alongside humankind. Contextualizing Mary's cultural and historical background provides a framework for understanding how the concept of nurturing existed during her time. Given this information, a cursory definition of Mary as nurturer can be crafted: Mary as nurturer is one who provides a life-sustaining transformative relationship of intimacy rooted in love for the individual with whom she is in relationship, and grounded in love for the triune God. Expanding emphasis to diverse cultural and spiritual expressions, with a focus on the Marianist Family, provides nuanced additional information for this definition. Community, participation, and practice emerge as crucial elements of the definition considering the Marianist Family foundation in Europe and lay expression of the Marianist Charism in the United States of America. Finally, exploring the implantation of the Marianist Charism in Peru and the cultic practices associated with La Virgen de la Puerta incorporates corporality and the reciprocal nature of Mary’s nurturing into the definition. The developed definition of Mary as nurturer reads: Mary as nurturer provides a life-sustaining transformative relationship of intimacy. She invites others into this intimacy as communities and allows for their reciprocal participation in her nurturing through corporal practices. These corporal practices are rooted in love for Mary, individuals, or communities and grounded in love for the triune God.
Keywords
Mary, Marianist, La Virgen de la Puerta, Chaminade, Marianist Lay Communities, Nurturer, Neubert
Rights Statement
Copyright 2025, author.
Recommended Citation
Cipolla-McCulloch, Caitlin, "Mary as Nurturer, a New Model for Contemporary Times" (2025). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7517.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/graduate_theses/7517
