#116 - Margarita Mooney Clayton

In a powerful conversation on The Eric Metaxas Show, Margarita Mooney Clayton, a Catholic theologian and Princeton Theological Seminary professor, defends the theological and cultural significance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in a world increasingly dismissive of motherhood and sacred mystery. Clayton reveals how her own journey—from a feminist skepticism toward Mary’s perceived passivity to a deep appreciation of her role as a cooperator in God’s plan—was catalyzed by her students’ hunger for a more complete Christian narrative. She argues that Mary is not a goddess but a model of radical receptivity, grace, and spiritual discernment, whose presence in Scripture—from the Annunciation to Pentecost—anchors a theology of incarnation that affirms the sacredness of human flesh, women, and motherhood. Clayton challenges both Protestant sola scriptura extremism and Catholic excess, calling for a balanced, scripturally grounded recovery of Mary’s role as 'God-bearer' (Theotokos) and spiritual mother, especially in a culture where childlessness, abortion, and the devaluation of femininity have created a spiritual void. Her book, *When Mary Calls*, is presented not as a devotional exercise but as a theological lifeline to help Christians rediscover the fullness of Christ’s humanity and the beauty of divine intimacy through Mary’s example.