Why Mary?

Seeing her father, Pulcheria’s spirits lifted immediately. She knew her father would be devastated to see her in such a state. After all, he had already lost two children and his beloved wife. Pulcheria knew how much he adored her and she knew she could use this adoration in her favor. 
Weaving a tale of how the loss of her close ties to her brother would lead to her death of a broken heart, Pulcheria succeeded in getting her father and Antiochus to allow her to accompany Theodosius to all of his lessons. She made particular effort to smile at Antiochus and to praise his efforts at tutoring to her father every chance she got. 
Antiochus had been directly responsible for selecting the old priest to serve as tutor for the children. He was aware of the weakness the Emperor had exhibited when it came to the influence of his wife. He also saw how much Pulcheria resembled her mother in this regard. In order to assure the heir to the throne would not be equally submissive to his older sister, Antiochus arranged for two sons of high ranking court officials to be the boy’s companions. 
The two boys, Paulinus and Placitus, proved no match for Pulcheria. Years later the hatred that developed between Paulinus and Pulcheria during that time would lead to international intrigue. Pulcheria’s jealousy over the time Theodosius spent with the boys was evident. 
Antiochus realized how important it was that the children look upon him affectionately, particularly Pulcheria. Because she had excelled in so many academic areas, he allowed her to have some oversight of the boys’ lessons thinking this would pacify her and gain her favor. 
Pulcheria was delighted to be the one to take charge of the future emperor’s education. She made it a point to learn everything she could about how an emperor was to rule so she could teach him. She was determined he would be a strong, honorable, just ruler. The stories she had heard about their own father’s weakness helped her see what would be undesirable in a future emperor. The histories she read about ancient kings inspired her to guide his studies to ensure her brother would be an emperor of renown. 
Because many of Theodosius’ practical lessons about the court, the palace and the community took place outside the palace walls, Pulcheria found herself set free from the confines of the nursery. While Antiochus’ attention was focused on the boy, Pulcheria was busy using her beauty and wit to charm everyone with whom she came in contact, from the cook in the kitchen to the visiting church dignitaries. 
Pulcheria quickly realized the how great the influence of the church leaders was in the palace. She also remembered the power her mother had wielded over them. Whenever she had the opportunity, Pulcheria delighted them with her knowledge of everything she had learned from the books and stories of the Apostles and the Holy Mother Mary the old priest had provided to her. 
By the time she was nine, Pulcheria had won the hearts of all who knew her. The old priest was distraught. Everyone believed she was a picture of perfection. He saw her as a sly conniving, manipulator of people. He was very cautious around her and pretended to have the same adoration of her everyone else exhibited. Pulcheria saw right through his charade. 
Of all the people she had come in contact with, the old priest was the only one Pulcheria was unable to completely win over. As intelligent as she was, she did not yet have the maturity to fully understand his reticence and mistrust. 
Pulcheria truly believed she was a good girl! When she read the stories about the Virgin Mary as a special child, she saw herself as no different. She earnestly believed she held the same place in God’s grace as did the Mother of Christ. Of course, there could only be one Christ, and therefore only one Mother of Christ! But the little girl believed in her heart God had chosen her for a special role as well. When people adored her she simply expected no less. When she manipulated people she did so without thinking. She believed she was appointed by God to care for her brother as the Holy Mother had cared for Christ and she took her role very seriously. She did not see herself as the priest saw her. She could not understand why he sometimes looked at her with fear in his eyes. It made her feel angry and she knew anger was sinful. She was obedient to him but avoided him as much as possible………….. 

The first part of this book is a historically accurate dramatization of the impact Pulcheria had on the devotion of the Virgin Mary in in her time. The purpose of it is to help one see the powerful influence the passion of even one very influential person had on the development of dogma in the Catholic Church. The foundation if this influence is certainly the act of Constantine to declare Christianity the official religion of the world. While we might look at this as a good thing, two factors show his action was perhaps not the best action for the purity of biblical faith and practice…………… 

Where are you today? If you have been deceived into believing there is any way to salvation and eternal life other than through the sacrifice of Christ, God already knows. What is God’s goal? God loves you and wants to have that same intimate relationship with you He had with your parents in the Garden of Eden. If they had told God they were sorry for what they had done, He would have forgiven them. He wants nothing more, and nothing less from you. 

Are you willing to give God, alone, all of your heart, soul, mind and strength?