The Historical Background of Devotion to Mary in Art

I’ve often heard statements such as “The Church didn’t start worshipping Mary until the Middle Ages.” There are obviously two things wrong here: (1) the Church doesn’t worship Mary and never has; and (2) Devotion to Mary started much, much earlier. In fact, from the earliest moments of the Church we see the faithful adoring Mary.

The Beginning of Marian Devotion
Let’s start with Mark Miravalle’s Introduction to Mary:

The first historic indications of the existing veneration of Mary carried on from the Apostolic Church is present in the Roman catacombs. As early as the end of the first century to the right half of the second century, Mary is depicted in frescos in the Roman catacombs both with and without her divine Son. Mary is depicted as a model of virginity with her Son; at the Annunciation; and at the adoration of the Magi; and as the orans, the woman of prayer.

From early on the faithful saw Mary as a woman chosen by God to bear His Son. Remember that at the point these were done the Apostle John was still alive and the Apostles Peter and Paul were crucified in Rome around this time. They were without question spending much of their time in the catacombs where this art was done.

And there’s another point here: clearly the early Christians did not believe that statues, pictures, or other depictions of holy men and women were idolatry as some modern-day protestants believe.

Miravalle also adds:

A very significant fresco found in the catacombs of St. Agnes depicts Mary situated between St. Peter and St. Paul with her arms outstretched to both. This fresco is the earliest symbol of Mary as “Mother of the Church.”
[snip]
It is also clear from the number of representations of the Blessed Virgin and their locations in the catacombs that Mary was seen not only as an historical person but also as a sign of protection, of defense, of intercession. Her image was present on tombs, as well as on the large central vaults of the catacombs.

And it Continues
Marian art exploded in the early Church after 313 A.D. (when Christianity stopped being persecuted). And since then it hasn’t stopped. The importance of the Virgin Mary in our Christian history cannot be overstated – she brought the Christ Child into the world and serves as Theotokos or God-bearer.

The art in the early started while the Apostles were still alive. I think it would be difficult to mount an argument that the Apostles fell away from Christ that quickly (much of anti-Catholic argument hinges on the notion that the Church fell away at some point).

You can read more of the book cited here.

God bless,
Jay