Aline Paris most recently was Professor of Theology at College of St. Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, where she was awarded the Inspiring Excellence Award. She holds an MA in Theology/Scripture from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont; and both an MTS and a DMin in Word and Worship from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Her previous ministries included serving as an elementary school principal, a Director of Religious Education, and a junior high school teacher. She served as spiritual director for several Cursillos. She served three terms as Executive Director of MAST and remains a member of the Editorial Board of The MAST Journal.
We too often think of it as just complaining, playing the blame game, an excuse for negativity, or a “poor me” syndrome. But, as we’ve seen from the story of Job, the Bible does recognize the validity of the human need to lament.
Mary is not God, she is not a fourth member of the Trinity. However, for many Catholics Mary provides ‘a’, if not ‘the’ major connection with the divine; for some she is even the primary connection with God and the spiritual life.