I have always wondered how we should understand the metaphorical role of the Holy Spirit in Immaculate Conception. My assumption has been that the Holy Sprit's role is symbolically masculine. Catholic teaching refers to the Holy Spirit as Mary's spouse because of her perpetual virginity and relationship to God.
This assumption was challenged recently as I read Luke 1:35:
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." (NIV)
This article proposes an alternative interpretation to this. Instead of describing one divine act, it is describing two. The first is an act of the Holy Spirit empowering Mary for immaculate conception. It is characteristic of a mother-in-law's relationship to the bride before the night of the wedding. The post uses a Jewish mikvah bathing ritual as the foundation for this metaphor. The second is an act of God the Father metaphorically consummating the spousal relationship with Mary.
Do people think this is a valid interpretation? Is the Holy Spirit feminine, and does the metaphorical title of mother-in-law subvert the Trinity?
This assumption was challenged recently as I read Luke 1:35:
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." (NIV)
This article proposes an alternative interpretation to this. Instead of describing one divine act, it is describing two. The first is an act of the Holy Spirit empowering Mary for immaculate conception. It is characteristic of a mother-in-law's relationship to the bride before the night of the wedding. The post uses a Jewish mikvah bathing ritual as the foundation for this metaphor. The second is an act of God the Father metaphorically consummating the spousal relationship with Mary.
Do people think this is a valid interpretation? Is the Holy Spirit feminine, and does the metaphorical title of mother-in-law subvert the Trinity?