By Ewelina Lepionko
This historically significant and famous image of Mary never ceases to amaze viewers. The Virgin Mary became the World’s Most Powerful Woman. She barely speaks in the New Testament, but her image and legacy are found and celebrated around the world.
Though she is known by many names and depictions, she is just one person, she is the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the Virgin Mary cult is interpreted very differently, depending on the world view of historians. Praying for the Virgin Mary’s intercession and being devoted to her is a global phenomenon. No other woman has been as exalted as Mary. As a universal symbol of maternal love, as well as of suffering and sacrifice, Mary is often the touchstone of our longing for meaning, a more accessible link to the supernatural than formal church teachings.
Depending on the part of the world, once Mary is a soft blonde woman, other times she is a dark skin mother with a child. The image in Mexico of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most reproduced female likenesses ever. Mary draws millions each year to shrines such as Fátima, in Portugal, and Knock, in Ireland, sustaining religious tourism estimated to be worth billions of dollars a year and providing thousands of jobs. She inspired the creation of many great works of art and architecture as well as poetry, liturgy, and music.
Here, we take a look at the ways she has revealed herself to people around the world.
