Birthing the Holy Book Review

Note: I am part of SpeakEasy, which means I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for my candid review. 

I’m not Catholic. And growing up in a fundamentalist, Pentecostal Church, Mary only played a peripheral role in our discussions of faith. Sure, she was important, but only as the vessel for gestating and birthing God.  She mattered in that she birthed Jesus but we rarely talked about her. 

Our faith had very little use for Mary, and in fact, we derided Catholics for “worshiping” Mary.   And yet, decades after leaving that Pentecostal church, I find myself ever more intrigued by Mary and by traditions that value her highly.  What could I learn about Mary, and more importantly, what could I learn from her?

Christine Valters Paintner, in her book, Birthing the  Holy: Wisdom from Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal provides readers with an opportunity to reflect on the various titles of Mary and engage in a “personal” retreat and to embrace the “sacred feminine” in our daily lives. 

To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about the notion of “embracing” the sacred feminine. On the one hand, it is an important counterpoint to the hypermasculine focus of too many forms of Christianity. So I appreciate the notion of balance and embracing both the sacred masculine and feminine.

On the other hand, as someone who falls closer to the nonbinary side of the gender spectrum,  I am weary of the ways in which language about femininity (and masculinity) often reinforces gendered stereotypes.  I guess I’m not sure I understand why, for example, the feminine would be associated with hospitality, welcoming, and protecting, and the masculine with boundaries and protection. I don’t see anything inherently gendered about those characteristics.

However, that might be more a quibble with Jung, than with Paintner, since the book does rely on the Jungian concepts of archetypes.  In addition, there are places where stereotypical notions of femininity are subverted.  For instance,  I particularly find the discussion on Mary’s title of Virgin to be illuminating. That was the title I was the weariest of, especially in light of how the concept of Mary’s virginity has been used to try and shame and control women’s sexuality. 

Instead of focusing on sexual purity,  Paintner describes how in this case the Virgin archetype signifies wholeness. Paintner explains, “The Virgin archetype is whole, belonging to herself, and impregnated with divine love. ‘She is who she is because that is who she is. She is free of the dictates of family and culture.” In this case, Mary serves as a beacon for us to consider our wholeness outside of the expectations and desires of others. 

I found all the sections and names illuminating, but Part II, “Hearing the Call” was the most applicable to my life at this moment.  I am in my second year of volunteering via a faith-based program and while the program lasts until July,  I am already anxious about my next steps. This section reminded me about the importance of slowing down, listening, discerning, and ultimately saying yes to God’s call.

 In this section, one of the names for Mary is Mustafia: She who is Chosen. Mustafia is one of the Arabic titles for Mary in the Qur’an.  I loved the discussion of Islam’s view of Mary and how Mary could serve as a bridge between Islam and Christianity. I also resonated with the idea that like Mary we too have a calling. Paintner explains, “Like Mary, we are also each chosen by God for our unique calling in a world in need of healing….Our call is not to bring the Messiah to birth but to honor the call that brings our heart alive.” (39) What is it that brings my heart alive? There I may hear God’s voice showing me my next steps. 

One more aspect of this book that needs to be discussed is the beautiful artwork. Kreg Yingst created thirty-one images for each name and title. The images are in black and white and are visually stunning. It offers an opportunity to engage in visio divina or sacred seeing, where one uses images as a vocal point for prayer/meditation.

This book is perfect for those who desire a greater appreciation for Mary and who seek to incorporate Mary into their spiritual life.