Mary, mother of Jesus

Mary was a first-century Jewish woman from Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is a very important figure in Christianity and is honored with many titles such as virgin or queen. Many Christian churches believe that Mary, as the mother of Jesus, is the Mother of God. She is also highly respected in Islam, where she is mentioned several times in the Quran, and is valued in other faiths like the Baháʼí and Druze beliefs.

The synoptic Gospels name Mary as the mother of Jesus. The gospels of Matthew and Luke tell how Mary was a virgin chosen by God to conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit. After giving birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, she and Joseph raised him in Nazareth in Galilee. Mary was present in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified and stayed with the apostles after he ascended to heaven.

People have honored Mary since the early days of Christianity, and she is often seen as the holiest and greatest saint. Different Christian traditions have varied beliefs and practices about Mary. The Catholic Church and some Orthodox churches have special teachings about her, while many Protestants have their own views that they believe match the Bible. There are many ways people show their devotion to Mary, including special prayers, feast days, and visiting places considered holy because of her. She has also been a popular subject in art throughout history.

Names and titles

Main article: Titles of Mary

Mary’s name comes from ancient languages. In the original texts, her name was based on her Aramaic name, which is written as Maryam or Mariam. In English, we get the name Mary from the Greek language, where it appears as Μαρία or Μαριάμ.

In Christianity, Mary is known by many special names and titles. She is often called the Virgin Mary because of the belief that the Holy Spirit helped her become the mother of Jesus without any relations with her husband Joseph until after Jesus was born. Other common titles include the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos (meaning “God-bearer”), Our Lady, and Queen of Heaven. Different Christian groups, such as Anglicans, Lutherans, Protestants, Mormons, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians, use these titles in various ways. In Eastern Christianity, three main titles are used: Theotokos (God-bearer), Aeiparthenos (ever-virgin), and Panagia (all-holy). Catholics use many titles for Mary, which have inspired lots of art over the years.

In Islam

Main article: Mary in Islam

In Islam, Mary is called Maryam, the mother of Isa (Jesus). She is given honorific titles such as “Sayyidatuna” (Our Lady), “Siddiqah” (she who believes completely), and “Qānitah” (constant in prayer). She is also called “Tahira,” meaning she who is purified, as she, like Jesus, was protected from Satan. In the Quran, she is described as the daughter of Imran and the sister of Aaron and Moses, but this is understood to be a way of speaking in Arabic, not a literal family connection.

Life in ancient sources

The canonical Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles are the main sources of historical information about Mary. They were written around AD 66–110 and mainly focus on the teachings of Jesus and his apostles. They provide limited information about Mary.

Mary is mentioned in several books of the New Testament:

• The Gospel of Luke mentions her the most, twelve times, all in stories about when she was very young.
• The Gospel of Matthew mentions her five times, mostly in these early stories too.
• The Gospel of Mark mentions her once and refers to Jesus' mother without using her name in another place.
• The Gospel of John refers to Jesus' mother twice but does not use her name. One time is at the wedding at Cana. The other time is near the cross where Jesus died.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Mary and the brothers of Jesus are mentioned together with the eleven apostles after Jesus had ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:14).

The Book of Revelation includes a vision of a "woman clothed with the sun" (Revelation 12:1, 12:5–6), which some people identify as Mary.

Genealogy

The New Testament does not tell much about Mary's early life. The Gospel of Matthew gives a family tree for Jesus through his father Joseph, only saying that Mary was Joseph’s wife. John 19:25 mentions that Mary had a sister, but it is unclear if this is the same as Mary of Clopas or a different person.

Annunciation

Mary lived in Nazareth in Galilee. An angel named Gabriel told her she would become the mother of the Messiah through the Holy Spirit. At first she was surprised, but she agreed, saying, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to your word." Joseph planned to end their engagement quietly, but an angel told him in a dream that the baby was from the Holy Spirit, so Joseph married Mary.

Because the angel told Mary that Elizabeth, who had been unable to have children, was now pregnant, Mary visited Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. Elizabeth greeted Mary as “the mother of my Lord,” and Mary spoke words of praise known as the Magnificat. After three months, Mary returned home.

Birth of Jesus

When the Roman Emperor Augustus required everyone to register for a census, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. There was no room at an inn, so Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable and used a manger as a cradle. When the boy was eight days old, he was circumcised and named Jesus.

After 40 days, Mary went to the Temple in Jerusalem with Jesus. Later, wise men from Eastern regions came to worship the baby Jesus. Joseph was warned in a dream that King Herod wanted to harm the baby, so the family fled to Egypt. After Herod died, they returned to Nazareth.

Ministry of Jesus

Mary was present when Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding at Cana at her suggestion. She is also mentioned as being with a group of women near the cross when Jesus died.

After the Ascension of Jesus

In the Acts of the Apostles, Mary is mentioned as being in an upper room with the eleven apostles after Jesus had ascended to Heaven. Her later life is not described in the Bible.

Religious perspectives

Christian

Christian views about Mary, the mother of Jesus, vary widely. Some groups, like Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, have many traditions and practices focused on Mary. Others, like many Protestants, focus less on her. Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutherans, and Anglicans honor Mary, often praying for her help and creating art and music in her honor.

Catholic

In the Catholic Church, Mary is called "Blessed" because of her special role. Catholics believe she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus and has a close connection to God. Important beliefs include that Mary was the Mother of God, conceived without sin, and was taken bodily to heaven after her life on Earth.

Eastern Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox Christians also hold Mary in high regard, calling her the Theotokos, or Mother of God. They honor her through hymns, prayers, and icons, believing she remained a virgin before and after Jesus' birth.

Protestant

Protestants generally respect Mary as the mother of Jesus but do not venerate her as Catholics or Orthodox Christians do. They focus more on Jesus and believe that prayers should be directed to God alone.

Lutheran

Lutherans honor Mary as the mother of Jesus and believe in the virgin birth. They celebrate several feasts related to Mary and uphold the belief that she was a perpetual virgin.

Anglican

Anglicans have varied views on Mary, with some honoring her similarly to Catholics and others focusing less on her. They celebrate feasts such as the Annunciation and the Visitation.

Methodist

Methodists accept the virgin birth of Jesus and generally believe Mary was a virgin before, during, and after Jesus' birth. Some also hold the belief in her Assumption.

Jewish

Jewish views on Mary are influenced by mentions in the Talmud and other ancient texts. These texts often portray her negatively, but they do not mention her by name.

Islamic

In Islam, Mary holds a respected place. The Quran mentions her several times and highlights her purity and devotion. Muslims honor her as the mother of Jesus, who they believe was a prophet.

Druze Faith

The Druze faith respects Mary, incorporating elements from both Islam and Christianity. They honor her for her purity and role in the life of Jesus.

Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith venerates Mary as the mother of Jesus, emphasizing her purity and the miraculous nature of Jesus' conception.

Biblical scholars

Scholars debate aspects of Mary's life as described in the Bible, particularly her virginity and her role in Jesus' lineage. Some believe she remained a virgin, while others interpret the texts differently.

Pre-Christian Rome

Early critics of Christianity, including the pagan philosopher Celsus, challenged the divinity of Jesus by questioning Mary's virginity. These debates were part of larger discussions about the validity of Christian beliefs.

Christian devotions

Main article: Marian devotions

People have shown deep respect and love for Mary, the mother of Jesus, for many centuries. In the early years of Christianity, writers began to compare Mary to Eve, the first woman in the Bible. They said that just as Eve’s choices brought trouble, Mary’s choices brought hope.

As time went on, special days were set aside to honor Mary, and many beautiful artworks were created to show her. Different Christian groups may show their love for Mary in slightly different ways, but all agree that she is very important. Some Christians pray to Mary and ask for her help, while others focus more on Jesus. Still, Mary is loved and respected by many as a special and holy woman.

In arts

See also: Madonna (art) and Marian art in the Catholic Church

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is often shown in paintings wearing blue clothes. This tradition started in the Byzantine Empire around 500 AD, where blue was the color for royalty. Later, blue paint was made from a valuable stone called lapis lazuli, making the color even more special. Mary is also shown in scenes such as the crucifixion of Jesus and holding her son after his death, known as the "pietà."

Mary has been shown in many movies and television shows over the years. Some famous portrayals include films like The Song of Bernadette from 1943 and The Nativity Story from 2006, as well as TV series like Jesus of Nazareth from 1977 and The Chosen from 2017.

Music has also celebrated Mary. Famous composers like Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Franz Schubert have created beautiful pieces in her honor.