Madonna, Complex
“Madonna, Complex” by Jen Stewart Fueston, published by Wipf and Stock Publishers on April 9, 2020, is a collection of poetry that delves into the multifaceted nature of saying yes—to God, to art, to love, and to motherhood. This 92-page work invites readers to reflect on Mary’s pivotal response to the angel, exploring how her acceptance becomes a profound moment of co-creation with the divine. The poems navigate the complexities of womanhood, intertwining themes of spirituality and the challenges that accompany traditional Christian imagery of Mary.
In this edition, readers will find a rich exploration of feminine faith journeys alongside historical figures like Joan of Arc and Saint Kateri, as well as reflections on motherhood depicted in visual art. The collection engages with significant moments in the Christian calendar and various sites of pilgrimage, emphasizing the diverse expressions of holiness. Through its verses, “Madonna, Complex” encourages contemplation on what it means to embrace commitments that demand our attention and energy, whether in personal or communal contexts.
Official synopsis Publisher
What does it mean to say yes?—to God, to the Spirit, to art, to love, to motherhood, to the dazzling & tangible world? Mary’s response to the angel, saying “Let it be to me as you have said,” is an essential moment in the life of a disciple, a woman, and an artist. In Madonna, Complex, Mary’s “yes” is a moment of opening, of allowing her very body to become a co-creator with God and a conduit for the coming of grace into the world. However, womanhood in all its fullness—sexuality, marriage, infertility, childbirth, nursing—inevitably complicates traditional Christian imagery of Mary. Madonna, Complex chronicles a feminine faith journey alongside saints like Joan of Arc and Saint Kateri, images of motherhood in visual art, through holy days of the Christian calendar—Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, All Saints Day—and sites of pilgrimage, cathedrals, wilderness, and other places holiness can be found. These poems explore the complexities of the messages we receive about what it means to say yes to God, or to something larger than ourselves that demands our attention and energy, whether it’s bearing a child or participating in a political protest.
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