Our Lady: The New Eve vs the Original Eve

Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM

Our Lady: The New Eve vs the Original Eve

One of the ways the Church has considered and spoken about Our Lady is via a comparison.

Mary has been referred to from ancient days as the New Eve. That is because St. Paul referred to Jesus as the second . . . or the New Adam. Whereas through the first Adam, death came into the world . . . through the New Adam, life comes to all of us.

When we speak of Adam, naturally, one thinks of Eve. Just as the original Eve participated in bringing death to the world . . . the New Eve participates in bringing life and salvation into the world. The comparisons continue within this conference.

The Church reflects on this meditation on this, the day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The Homily looks at Our Lady and Eve, through the specific lens of birth.

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The Birth of the Virgin: Spanish Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo: 1661

This artist appears several times on this website, especially around the Lenten Season. Several paintings include: 1, 2, and 3.

This painting is unique. It was originally painted for the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Spain. This painting and the Immaculate Conception painting (link) were taken to France and now reside in the Louvre, Paris, France.

What also makes this painting unique is its nature. One would not really know it is a religious painting, other than the presence of angels and the halo around Mary.

The Virgin Mary is supported by a group of women, as St. Anne appears in bed on the left in the shadows. The group of women are also in the shadows as the only real light illuminates from the Virgin Mary. Next to St. Anne one can also see St. Joachim.

Take a moment to study and meditate on this detail of the painting.