Women in early Christianity by Alfred Brittain and Mitchell Carroll - HTML preview

VOLUME III

_WOMEN OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY_

BY

Rev. ALFRED BRITTAIN and MITCHELL CARROLL, Ph.D.

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

J. CULLEN AYER, Jr., Ph.D.

OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY

[Illustration 1: _SEEKING SHELTER After the painting by Luc

Oliver Merson

Notwithstanding all that is said in these ancient writings in

the attempt to do her honor, we must conclude that the glory of

the halo which beautifies the head of the real Mary is derived

by reflection from the moral splendor of her Son....

We need

such a poetic creation as Mary; and her place at the head of all

the daughters of earth is the more secure and effective because

her figure in authentic history is but a shadowy outline. The

ideal woman whom all mankind loves and reverences as Virgin,

Mother, and Saint, is objectified by concentrating in Mary of

Nazareth all possible feminine grace, beauty, and purity._]

_Woman_

_In all ages and in all countries_