The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

It is significant that all four Gospels record the anointing of Jesus by a woman with an alabaster jar of aromatic nard. In middle-eastern liturgical practices surrounding the ancient rites of the "sacred marriage" the anointing of the sacrificed bridegroom/king was a sacred ceremony reserved to his bride. The Gospel narratives describe the pre-nuptial anointing of Jesus by the woman with the alabaster jar and contain other elements from this ancient ritual.

On seven of eight New Testament lists of the women who walked with Jesus, Mary Magdalen's name is mentioned first on the list. She was clearly "first lady" in the eyes of the early Christian community. Some early Church theologians identified the Magdalen as the model of "church" (ekklesia) whom Christ "loved so much, that He gave his life for her."

More compelling facts from Scripture and history are included in Margaret Starbird's work. She follows a trail of evidence that leads through Egypt, to the south of France, and into important historical events in Europe.

Most significant is the medieval legend of the Holy Grail (sangraal), which secretly celebrated Mary Magdalen as the Bride of Christ. The "sangraal" is the "sacred blood" -- the royal lineage of Jesus. Because the legend of the Holy Grail contained and preserved the truth about Mary Magdalen, it was ruthlessly suppressed by the Inquisition. In an effort to discount her significance, Mary Magdalen was labeled a prostitute, but she was really the "Beloved" -- the bride of Jesus.

Restoring the sacred union of Jesus and Mary Magdalen to the heart of our Christian story provides us with a model of holiness based on the sacred union of the masculine and the feminine. It affirms the true holiness and significance of women as PARTNERS in the future practice of our Roman Catholic tradition.

I have talked with Margaret Starbird. When she embarked on her research, her intent was to disprove the possibility of Jesus' marriage, but the facts led her in a surprising new direction that provides a wonderful healing message for us all.

The Woman With The Alabaster Jar provides the facts and history that will explain why women hold the key to many of the problems faced today by our Roman Catholic Church.

Father John Shuster, Roman Catholic Priest

Don't get me wrong. If you're a person who believes in questioning dogma and indoctrination this book is very good because it makes you think about institutions and how they have affected our lives. As an American male reared in middle class wannabe lust, I find the premise of this book reassuring. The problem I have with it though is that Margaret Starbird doesn't give us any hint of what in the world she's trying to say other than there is this crazy and meaningful possibility out there--which is almost what the writers of HBHG did. I think what Starbird is getting at is harmony. But she left me hanging with what exactly that harmony is supposed to be--it's certainly not obvious. Besides, harmony is not going to fix this screwed up male driven world we are forced to live in--especially if you look at the women in the world who hold any power. As Starbird even says, the "feminist movement has missed the point."

So Starbird presents us with quite a beautiful idea but then leaves us (me; American male) hanging. She tells us that the feminine is missing in our lives and this is caused by the male institutionalization of Jesus Christ. Ok. Fine. And? Should we reverse that? Should we try and start over?

So here's my take on the book. She's leaving me hanging for a reason. This isn't about woman or feminism. It's about being REAL--real man, real woman, whatever. Starbird walks a fine line of writing about two people in love (who might have been from the family-line of David) and the ramifications of that. None of that matters though two-thousand years later. Jesus did more than suffer for people. He tried to show people a way; I think he tried to provide some wisdom. Margaret Starbird mixes her premise up with a woman and an alabaster jar (as significant as that may be) and the idea of love between a woman and a man. It's a shame because we live in a world where hicks with the intellect of third graders gladly vote door-knobs into the whitehouse and they do it in the comfort of ignorance. Unfortunately, I tend to believe that it is the wrong in life that has driven the western world to where it is today. Seeing our wrongs though is not enough to make us do the right thing first. What we need is wisdom not the belief in an alabaster jar--unless love will finally make the world go 'round. (Good luck on that one.)