Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is arguably the most important woman in all Christianity.
In recent years there has been growing interest in trying to define Mary's place in Christendom and her role in providing a "Savior" for all the world. There has been talk of elevating the level of Mary's sainthood in relation to other saints within the Catholic Church. Other Christian denominations have focused on doctrinal issues and her role in relationship to Christ's mission.
Probably nowhere is Mary more revered than in the Catholic Church.
"Mary is the mother of God," says the Rev. Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. "We say that because Jesus is both human and divine."
Monsignor Fitzgerald said members of the Catholic Church do not pray to Mary, but they do pray through her, seeking intercession with God.
"She is a model for us. She was blessed more than any other human being," he notes.
Although considered by Catholics to be the "Queen of Saints," Mary is not considered divine in nature.
"She's an intercessor," Monsignor Fitzgerald said. "To pray to (her) does not mean to worship (her)."
Catholics believe Mary conceived the Christ child through the power of the Holy Spirit, allowing her to remain a virgin, a belief known as the Immaculate Conception.
Monsignor Fitzgerald said talk of elevating Mary's status to that of "co-redeemer" is speculative at best; he says there is no credence to it.
Catholics worldwide celebrate Dec. 8 in commemoration of the Immaculate Conception by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Utah author Bruce E. Dana weighed in last summer with his interpretation of Mary's status in relation to the beliefs and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his book "Mary, Mother of Jesus."
Dana's book characterizes Mary as a chosen daughter of God. It quotes the late LDS apostle, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who talked of Mary as greater even than Eve of the Garden of Eden.
"Can we speak too highly of her whom the Lord has blessed above all women? There was only one Christ, and there is only one Mary," Elder McConkie stated.
Dana said he was surprised to discover how much had been written about Mary in the LDS Church.
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, which is not an official LDS publication but carries an endorsement from the church, also quotes Elder McConkie in its listing for Mary, mother of Jesus. It quotes Elder McConkie as saying Heavenly Father must have chosen his greatest female spirit to be the mother of his son.
The Book of Mormon, a book of LDS scripture, describes Mary as "most beautiful and fair above all other virgins." (Mosiah 3:8).
Unlike the Catholic Church and many Eastern Orthodox denominations, the LDS Church does not view Mary as an intercessor, and it does not ascribe to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. It does, however, affirm the virgin birth.
The Rev. Steve Reinhard of West Jordan's Mountain Vista United Methodist Church said Methodists see Mary as a great example for others to follow.
"She was the human mother of Jesus," he said. The Rev. Reinhard said United Methodist churches like to spotlight Mary at Christmas.
Pastor Rodger S. Russell of the Holladay Baptist Church said Mary's selection to be the earthly mother of Jesus sets her apart.
"Otherwise, she was as human as the rest of us," he said.
Pastor Russell said Mary had a normal birth and childhood. "She was favored of God but still had her sins to be forgiven."
Southern Baptists, like most other Protestant denominations, do view Mary as an intercessor.
Father John Kaloudis, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of Salt Lake, said his church affirms the virgin birth of Christ and stressed that Mary is considered the mother of salvation.
"She's an intercessor for us," he said.
The Rev. Caryl A. Marsh of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salt Lake said her faith is probably in the middle as far as beliefs about Mary go.
"We certainly think she's important in God's plan of Salvation," the Rev. Marsh said, noting that many Episcopalians have a deep devotion to Mary. The church also celebrates Mary at Feast Days.
The Rev. Marsh said the Episcopal church does not believe in the Immaculate Conception or in praying through Mary as an intercessor.
The Rev. Michael J. Imperiale of the First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City said his church's beliefs are grounded in scripture.
"We believe Mary is a human being," he said, stressing Presbyterians do not pray to or worship Mary. He said Presbyterians recognize that Mary was chosen by God for a special purpose, to give birth to the only begotten.
The Rev. Imperiale notes, however, "there's not a whole lot in the Bible about Mary" as a person.
The Rev. Walter Anderson of the Hope Lutheran Church in West Jordan said most Lutherans do not see Mary as a divine person but agree she was chosen as the vehicle for God's human nature.
"We believe in the virgin birth," he said. "And Mary was still the most blessed of all women."
The Rev. Anderson said church members refer to Mary as a saint in the same biblical sense that Moses and Abraham are considered saints. He said today's church members who live exemplary lives can also be considered saints.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com