Hail Mary?

Maurice Hamington, Oregon State University

"This fascinating analysis of the many images of Mary illuminates ideological struggles within Catholicism. An important contribution to feminist thought." -- Barrie Thorne, Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies, University of California, Berkeley."Hamington has written such a fascinating book that I had to put my pen down lest I underline everything." -- National Catholic Reporter ...this work reads well and is worth one's time and effort. It provides an interesting approach to Mary- a provocative work reminding Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians that, despite attempts to crown Mary either literally or metaphorically, diamonds are certainly not this woman's best friend. Michael Whalen, Diocese of Wilmington"A good overview of feminist problems with promises of Mary in contemporary Catholicism." -- WATERwheel Vol. 9,No. 4, 1996"Harrington's book is an excellent discussion of both the development of Marian imagery and its critique by feminist theology ... This analysis of Mary is a splendid vehicle for the discussion of the Catholic Church's understanding of women." -- Church History

• Introduction; Chapter 1 The History and Social Construction of Mary; Chapter 2 The Struggle to Control Mary; Chapter 3 Catholic Sexual Morality and the Blessed Virgin Mary; Chapter 4 Mary, the Mediatrix and Asymmetrical Gender Power; Chapter 5 Women and Evil / Mary and Eve; Chapter 6 The Recasting of Marian Imagery;