The Virgin Mary in Medieval Art and History

And the angel said to her, ''Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. '' -Luke 1: 30

The Mother of God is often shown with red hair and a fat baby Jesus in her arms in Medieval paintings. While this may sound strange to modern ears, many pictures in Medieval Art portrayed Mary as such.
 Since the earliest days, Christians have shown honour to the blessed Virgin. Contrary to some Evangelicals's beliefs, early Christians in no way learned their prayers to the saints from Pagan Rome.  In fact, these were some of the Christian practices the Romans never understood about Christians. Much like the fact that Romans accused Christians of being cannibals by eating the Body and Blood of Christ, or like how the Romans claimed the Christians had incest with one another since they called each others brothers and sisters, the Romans found it strange likewise, that Christians would ask those that had already died to pray for them. Of course, Christians since the earliest of times believed in the Communion of Saints, that those on Heaven and Earth are able to pray for one another { though those in Heaven of course need no prayer for}.   Perhaps most surprising of all is that Christians have always asked the saints, and especially the Virgin Mary, to pray for them. This was no less true than the leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther. Until his death, Luther would ask the Blessed Virgin to pray for him. Of significance to all this about Intercession of the saint also is that prayers to the saints are written on ancient stones from the Roman Empire. 

 Peter and Paul pray for Victor!
 I commend to Saint Basilla the innocent Gemellus,
Anatolias,...intercede for your sister.
 Pray for your brothers and your friends.
Pray for your parents.
Martyrs and saints, keep Maria in mind.
 O Hippolytus, remember Peter a sinner,
Master Crescentio, heal my eyes for me!
 O Saint Sixtus, remember Aurelius Repentinus in your prayers!
 Oh holy souls, remember Marcianus, Successus, Servus, and all our brethren!

Saint Augustine often asked the Apostle John to pray for him. This is an ancient practice indeed. There are dozens of examples of historical evidence for this.
 Throughout the ages, because of the role she was blessed to be given in giving birth to our Savior, Christ Jesus, Mary has been seen as a Mother for all of us.  The Virgin Mary in particular of course, has had a tremendous influence on Christian art. On the catacombs of the early church, one will find paintings of the Virgin Mary. Even apparitions are recorded of the Virgin Mary are well known to have appeared. The first such recording of an apparition was in 250 A. D. to Saint Gregory the Wonderworker.
 The Church fathers spoke high of the Mother of God. Some called her the second Eve. The Western Church generally held to her sinlessness, though the East did not as much.
 The Blessed Virgin has been honored essentially by all Christians for 2,000 years.  Again to mention the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther taught the Perpetual Virginity of Mary. Saint Jerome claims Saints Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Justin Martyr,  and Irenaeus taught the Perpetual Virginity of Mary. Seems awfully strange that the very disciples of the Apostles would be wrong about the Virgin's Perpetual Virginity.  After all, were they not closer to her in time than we are? As a example, Ignatius of Antioch was a student of the Apostle John. Let us not be arrogant in thinking that we know more about the people spoken in the Scriptures then they did! Anyhow, over time however, more and Protestants down through the ages seemed to turn away from the veneration of the Virgin, well known to the early church. This is especially true of Evangelicals.
 On the other hand, when Pope Piux IX declared the Immaculate Conception in 1854 he would be teach directly at odds with what Saints Ambrose of Milan,  Augustine of Hippo,  Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas had taught.
 Some of the Western Fathers held that the Virgin Mary was born without sin, while others said she was born with it, but lived without ever personally sinning. But those mentioned above, did not teach { except for perhaps Aquinas} that the Virgin was conceived without original sin. In fact, some of these saints believed, that the doctrine of the Immaculate of Conception took away the need for Christ to save Mary if true.
 Last, there are many other doctrines of the Virgin of Mary that have been proposed throughout the ages. But none of that I find to be relevant here.

  Despite differing views among Christians over certain doctrines of the Virgin Mary, it is indeed clear, that she has inspired many Christians since the times of Christ.


Of Oon that is so faire and bright,
Velud marts stella,
 Brighter thanne the dayes light,
 Parens et Puella

 I crie to thee, thou sees to me.
 Lady, preye thy Sone for me,
 Tam Pia, That I m oot to come to thee Maria.
 -Geoffrey Chaucer.