Mary The First Priest Of Christianity

As a supporter of the order of Roman Catholic Women Priests,  I'll let Bridget Mary Meehan have her say.  Note, the HTML problem is due to my incompetence, you should look at the entire post at her blog.

Today, Dec. 8, 2021, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Revised Code of Canon Law 1379- placing the ordination of women priests in the same category of grave crimes against the Church as sexual abuse- goes into effect. 

This penalty  of excommunication is a grave injustice not only against women called to serve God's people in a renewed priestly ministry but,  is also an outrageous offense against the Church's teaching that women's bodies are holy and all persons are equal images of God.   

It is ironic that the Vatican hierarchy chose this feast day of Mary for this misogynist law to be codified into a modern-day witch-hunt of a prophetic movement for the full equality of women in the Church. 

So, I suggest that we declare this day as the feast of the priesthood of Mary and of all women and genders as equal images of the Divine in Persona Christi!

 The idea of Mary as Priest seems to have been around since the 4th century and is wonderfully illustrated in striking mages of Mary dressed in priest’s vestments – some dating from as early as the 6th century. Here is a brief taster…

 The image to the left from 6th century Croatia, shows Mary visiting Elizabeth during their pregnancies. Both women are wearing what look to be chasubles with the pallium visibe beneath, denoting the highest priestly honour, worn only by the Pope or Bishop as a privilege.  It has been said that Mary baptised and confirmed John the Baptist in the womb of Elizabeth.  Jean-Jacques Olier, contemporary of St Vincent de Paul in the 17th Century, says of the Visitation to Elizabeth, “The Blessed Virgin, as Bishop in the Church, sanctified the son of the high priest Zachariah. She sanctified St. John and through the imposition of her power, using her right as Mother of God and spouse of the Father, she imprinted the Holy Spirit on St. John”.