According to the dictionary, the word wonder defined as “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” Being the among the central tenets of the Christian faith, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke of the Incarnation eloquently in his General Audience on January 9th, 2013. He declared,
Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like to us in all things except sin” (Constitution Gaudium et Spes, n. 22). Thus it is important to recover our wonder at the mystery, to let ourselves be enveloped by the grandeur of this event: God, the true God, Creator of all, walked our roads as a man, entering human time to communicate his own life to us (cf. 1 Jn 1:1-4). And he did not do so with the splendour of a sovereign who dominates the world with his power, but with the humility of a child.
Harbingers of Hope
On a dark night in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, a wondrously obedient young woman gave birth to the physical manifestation of God’s wonder—Jesus Christ! The event of God becoming man never ceases to amaze me. Mark Twain once wrote, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” I find myself drawn to the concept that reality is odd, weird, peculiar, and problematic. Seeming senseless suffering occurs daily throughout the globe: wars, famine, and violation of human rights.
Over the past year, I have delved into the DC Comics Universe— the realm of Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Green Lantern. Most recently, I began reading about Wonder Wonder. Created in 1941, she has become the quintessential heroine. The 2017 film Wonder Woman breathed life into the DC Cinematic Universe. Wonder Woman is arguably the most wondrous event for DC comics since Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy earlier this century.
Comic books invoke wonder and awe. I am reminded to be grateful for creative genius involved in comics. I do not worship this genre of literature, however, I do honor it as points to the Real and Truth Author of All of Reality. As a Catholic reading Wonder Woman comics, the titular character’s penchant for peace, continual pursuit of truth, and advocate for the poor remind me of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Advocate for Peace
Wonder Woman lived on the island of Themyscira (formerly Paradise Island). She was formed out of clay of the shores of Themyscira by her mother Queen Hippolyta. Later she learns the Zeus is her father. As an emissary for the Amazons, an all-female civilization, and the outside world, Wonder Woman strives for peace. In Wonder Wonder Volume 9 Resurrection the villain Doctor Poison tries to bait the heroine into violence by holding civilians hostage. Doctor Poison states, “Go be a superhero Wonder Woman. Leave the real world to people ready for war.” Wonder Woman quips back, “War isn’t the answer. It never has been.”
Another example of Wonder Woman’s aversion to violence as a default setting is seen Wonder Woman #0: The Lair of the Minotaur. This issue details her training as a young Amazon into a warrior-heroine. Mentored by War (Ares), Wonder Woman has her strength and mettle tested over and over. After defeating Minotaur, War urges Wonder Woman to kill the monster. Instead, she selects mercy. “So be it! Thou art my greatest failure, Diana of Themyscira! The path thou hast chosen, now thou shall walk alone!” ridiculed Ares. Oftentimes, Diana demonstrates a levelheadedness and path toward peace the world (and sometimes other members of the Justice League!) fail to recognize initially.
Similar to Wonder Woman, Mary is recognized as an advocate of peace. In 1917, Pope Benedict XV inserted the title Queen of Peace into the Litany of Loreto. According to Fr. Edward Looney in Our Lady is a Real Wonder Woman, “Mary made her desire for peace known through various apparitions, most notably in Fatima, where she encouraged the three Fatima children to pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world.”
Bearer of Truth
As the mother of Jesus, Mary was also the bearer of truth (cf John 14:6). While not always physically present during his public ministry, Mary accompanied the Truth at key times (the Wedding at Cana, foot of the Cross, apparitions throughout history to devout believers).
Like Mary, Wonder Woman bears truth— in the form of her Lasso of Truth. A magical rope with the abilities to compel anyone who touches it to tell the truth, Wonder Woman uses the lasso to ensnare liars. Issue #52 title In the Name of Love has Diana seeking to protect an infant, Zeke, from those that fear his power. Surrounded by the double-dealing goddess of magic, Hecate and the duplicitous Hera, Wonder Woman utilizes the Lasso of Truth. “I’ve heard enough! Enough of the secrets and the lies. This time, I will have the truth!” Wonder Woman exclaims as she tosses her cord of candor to get to the bottom of the lies. St. Louis de Montfort boasted, “The rosary (Mary’s ‘lasso of truth) is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother!”
Watching over the World
Along with promoting peace and keeping close to truth, a third way Wonder Woman mirrors Mary is because both act as guardians for the world. Mary is referred to as The Tower of Ivory and The Tower of David. While not nearly as common appellations as Queen of Peace, both titles refer to Mary as a defender and guardian. Blessed John Henry Newman recognized the significance of Mary as Tower of David in his fourth reflection On the Assumption. He wrote,
TOWER in its simplest idea is a fabric for defence against enemies. David, King of Israel, built for this purpose a notable tower; and as he is a figure or type of our Lord, so is his tower a figure denoting our Lord’s Virgin Mother…wherever she is to be found, adores Christ as true God and true Man, as firmly as ever she did; and strange indeed would it be, if it ever happened otherwise. Thus Mary is the “Tower of David.
As member of the Justice League, Wonder Woman frequents their HQ—called the Watchtower! Although a demi-god and global superhero, Wonder Woman strives to be on the watch for those most in need. From closely guarding baby Zeke to innocent civilians, Diana of Themyscira aims to keep watch against those that seek to do evil.
Wonder Woman jump-started DC’s revival and relevance, so too Mary can help to reinvigorate the decadent Catholic Church. Where Wonder Woman is not too far behind is the rest of the Justice League. Where Mary is, close by is Her Son Christ!
Matt Chicoine
Matthew Chicoine is a free-lance writer, a life-long Catholic, and an avid truth seeker. He earned an M.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2014 and enjoys binge reading Tolkien, Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Fulton Sheen and comic books. Visit his blog at https://thesimplecatholic.