Mary, the Mother of JesusAmong Christians and Muslims Mary is referred to as the mother of Jesus and both accept the idea that she conceived Jesus while remaining a virgin. The canonical New Testament tells us little about her early life but other sources relate that she was from Nazareth in Galilee which became the cradle of the Christian movement. According to these sources, she was related to Elizabeth who belonged to the lineage of Aaron, a subgroup of the priestly tribe of Levi. If this is the case, then Jesus himself would not have come of such humble origins as his birth in a manger would seem to indicate and his mother’s linkage to a priestly tribe would explain his deep understanding of Torah and his participation in prayer at the Temple.
Although Mary appears several times in scripture during Jesus’ ministry, she seems to have had a relatively minor role as in John 19:25 when she is recorded as being present during the crucifixion along with a number of other women. Jesus’ petulance with her intervention at the wedding celebration in Cana when he turned water into wine is well known as well as his harsh repudiation of family ties when he said “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:21). Here Jesus seems to be indicating clearly that he was the leader of a movement not tied to family or tribe.
During the first century, Mary is hardly mentioned by the church fathers but by the end of the second century certain of the doctrines that later came to be codified in dogma were beginning to form. Mary’s perpetual virginity was first posed by Irenaeus (d. circa 202) and Clement of Alexandria (150-215) and especially supported by the anti-Arian Athanasius (293-373) theologian and bishop of Alexandria. This doctrine is now championed by Catholics but most Protestants believe that she had children after Jesus. The doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary was present in certain texts from the late fourth century and was fully accepted by both the Western and Eastern churches by the sixth century. The doctrine finally became dogma in 1950 after Pius XII issued the encyclical Munificentissimus Deus which stated that at her death both her body and soul were assumed into heaven.
Perhaps the most important doctrine related to Mary that is held by Catholics is the Immaculate Conception. According to this doctrine, which was raised to the level of dogma by Pius IX in 1854, Mary was born without the stain of original sin.
There can be little doubt that veneration of the Virgin Mary during the middle ages and later inspired some of the greatest religious art of all time. Artists inspired by Marian devotion included Simone Martini, Matthias Grünewald, Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, El Greco and Murillo to name a few.
Several recent popes including Pius XII and John Paul II have been deeply devoted to Mary and the Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici organization has been formed to collect signatures to support formal recognition of Mary’s role as Coredemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces and Advocate for the People of God. These popular understandings of Mary’s role have yet to be fully accepted by Catholic theologians or endorsed by any pope speaking ex cathedra (papal teaching invoking infallibility).
More information: Wikipedia (Mary, Mother of Jesus) Wikipedia (Protestant views of Mary) The Mary Page: University of Dayton Christian Classics Ethereal Library: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Mariolatry: Christian Classics Ethereal Library: Mary from Introduction to the Epistle of James: New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia
Meet the Expert: Beverly Roberts Gaventa
|
copyright ©2009 College of DuPage