A recent posting to this list mentioned the virgin mary
"taking over" midwife functions from pagan goddesses.
My query to the list is, goddesses aside, have there
been any studies of the Virgin Mary as midwife? I am
working on a set of Icelandic miracles in which she appears and
delivers the children of pregnant women, and will soon
have to start looking for comparative material in which
the Virgin appears as "patroness" of childbirth. Any
suggestions (as well as references to specific miracle
accounts) would be welcome. I would also be interested in
specific references to myths, folklore, etc. in which
pagan deities, elves, or whatever aid in childbirth -
but I suspect that is a query for another list.
Margaret Cormack [log in to unmask]
Dept. of Philosophy and Religion fax: 843-953-6388
College of Charleston tel: 843-953-8033
Charleston, SC 29424-0001
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