Mary and the Ark of the Covenant

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If I posted this thread in the wrong place, may the mods move it to somewhere appropriate.

I often hear Mary being equated with the Ark of the Covenant (say, in the Litany of Loreto). I’ve been doing some reading on it, and it would seem that the historical Ark served mainly two functions:

1.) As a receptacle, a sacred container, carrying the Law and various other items within it; and
2.) As a portable footstool-plus-throne for God’s presence (kind of like some sort of processional litter).

My question is, how can we exactly equate these functions with Mary and her womb? I already have some vague idea of number 1’s parallel, but it is function number 2 that confuses me. :confused:
 
patrick457 said:
If I posted this thread in the wrong place, may the mods move it to somewhere appropriate.

I often hear Mary being equated with the Ark of the Covenant (say, in the Litany of Loreto). I’ve been doing some reading on it, and it would seem that the historical Ark served mainly two functions:

1.) As a receptacle, a sacred container, carrying the Law and various other items within it; and
2.) As a portable footstool-plus-throne for God’s presence (kind of like some sort of processional litter).

My question is, how can we exactly equate these functions with Mary and her womb? I already have some vague idea of number 1’s parallel, but it is function number 2 that confuses me. :confused:
Click to expand...
catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0510fea5.asp

Will or does this article help you?
 
I think the Theotokos as the new Ark of the Covenant is principally number 1.

The Ark contained, among other things, the Word of God on the tablets inscribed by His finger, and the Bread that came down from heaven.
 
First, perhaps this table comparing Scripture will help.

This may also help, copied from poster Robbinson in recent thread:Just as the Ark of the Covenant, in the Hebrew scritpures (which contained the 10 commandments (word of God), the symbol of the priesthood (staff of Aaron) and the bread of life (manna from Heaven) … so Mary, who is the new and fuller Ark by holding in her womb, the Word of God (Christ the loving Word), the Symbol of the of the Priesthood (Christ - the ultimate priest in the order of Melchezedek) and the bread of life (Christ - who is literally the "bread of life)

As for #2, what do you mean by processional litter?
:o
 
All the posts have been extremely helpful. Thanks! 👍
MarcoPolo said:
As for #2, what do you mean by processional litter?
:o
Click to expand...
Okay…😃

In Exodus 25:17-20 we read:

And you shall make a kapporet of pure gold: two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth; and you shall make two kheruvim of gold, of beaten work you shall make them at the two ends of the kapporet; and make one kheruv at the end on this side, and one kheruv at the end on that; from the kapporet you shall make the kheruvim on its two ends. And the kheruvim shall stretch out their wings upward, overshadowing the kapporet with their wings, and their faces shall be ‘a man to his brother’ - towards the kapporet the faces of the kheruvim shall be.

You would note that on this lid (traditionally rendered in a loose fashion as ‘mercy-seat’) are two cherubim of gold. God then tells Moses:

And I will meet with you there, and I will speak with you from above the kapporet, from between the two kheruvim that are on the chest of the testimony, all that I will command you for the sons of Israel.

Indeed there are quite a number of references to God riding/sitting on a cherub in the Bible.

So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the chest of the covenant of YHWH Tzevaot, sitter of the kheruvim; and the two sons of Eli were there with the chest of the covenant of Elohim, Hophni and Phinehas. (1 Sam. 4:4)

And He rode a kheruv and flew, and glided on the wings of the wind. (Ps. 18:10; cf. 2 Sam. 22:11)

O YHWH Tzevaot, God of Israel, sitter of the kheruvim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made the heavens and the earth. (Is. 37:16)

Now, in Ancient Near Eastern cultures, winged creatures, sometimes portrayed as human-animal hybrids, are considered as protectors and representative/intercessors. They were the guardians of sacred precincts, persons and objects from intruders and the bringers of the petitions of man to the gods. In fact, they are commonly seen to flank thrones; they serve as the seat or vehicle of the king or the gods:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

http://www.bu.edu/anep/BethShanthrone.gif

http://worldreligion.nielsonpi.com/media/godridesuponacherub.jpg

In Egypt, meanwhile, there are box-shaped portable thrones, designed to serve as the Pharaoh’s or a god’s processional chair.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/1535/arkthroneegyptian.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5562/mvc140s.jpg

Note the winged creatures overshadowing the seated pharaoh.

The Ark was probably functionally similar to these: it was a portable (empty) throne and footstool for God, some sort of symbol for His presence or something along those lines.
 
patrick457 said:
The Ark was probably functionally similar to these: it was a portable (empty) throne and footstool for God, some sort of symbol for His presence or something along those lines.
Click to expand...
The Ark as it contains the Divine mimics Mary, correct? So you are wondering if the Ark was sometimes without Mary that she must parallel that as well?
 
MarcoPolo said:
The Ark as it contains the Divine mimics Mary, correct? So you are wondering if the Ark was sometimes without Mary that she must parallel that as well?
Click to expand...
No, no. Sorry for the confusion. :o

What I meant is, does Mary have a parallel with the Ark’s function as a throne for God? If there is, does it overlap with the parallel with her womb being like unto the Ark: containing the manna (the panis angelicus) and the Tablets (the Law and the Word of God) and the rod of Aaron.

Now by “overlap”, I mean that one parallel I’m thinking right now is that her womb has also become like a ‘seat’ of sorts for the unborn Son of God. Is this interpretation correct? Sorry if I’m not so clear. :confused:
 
patrick457 said:
No, no. Sorry for the confusion. :o

What I meant is, does Mary have a parallel with the Ark’s function as a throne for God? If there is, does it overlap with the parallel with her womb being like unto the Ark: containing the manna (the panis angelicus) and the Tablets (the Law and the Word of God) and the rod of Aaron.

Now by “overlap”, I mean that one parallel I’m thinking right now is that her womb has also become like a ‘seat’ of sorts for the unborn Son of God. Is this interpretation correct? Sorry if I’m not so clear. :confused:
Click to expand...
I would think a seat would still represent a “dwelling place” of sorts for the King just as a tabernacle would. But I’m no theologian. :o
 
By the way, I just realized something.
As I mentioned, the cherubim - and the iconographically similar Ancient Near Eastern hybrid creatures - served as guardians to protect the sacred from the profane. Placing them on top of the Ark may serve yet another purpose: they serve as guardians of the holy object! 🙂

Which brings me to yet another probable parallel to Mary, since we Catholics often say Mary was ‘protected’ or the ‘guarded’ from stain of sin. Now, I may be reading much into it, but is this a viable interpretation? :confused:
 
Mardukm posted an interesting quote from Gregory Thaumaturgos on this question in relation to the immaculate conception.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=414091&page=2

It seems as though the term, “Ark of the Covenant” was sometimes used for Jesus’ own body, sometimes for Mary, and sometimes for all true believers with the concept of gold covering both the inside and outside of the Ark as symbolising purity and sinlessness.

God bless,
Ut
 
utunumsint said:
Mardukm posted an interesting quote from Gregory Thaumaturgos on this question in relation to the immaculate conception.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=414091&page=2

It seems as though the term, “Ark of the Covenant” was sometimes used for Jesus’ own body, sometimes for Mary, and sometimes for all true believers with the concept of gold covering both the inside and outside of the Ark as symbolising purity and sinlessness.

God bless,
Ut
Click to expand...
That’s the beauty of types, ain’t it? They need not have only one layer of meaning. 🙂
 
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