John Calvin said, "It cannot be denied that God in choosing and destining Mary to be the Mother of his Son, granted her the highest honor." Ulrich Zwingli said, "I esteem immensely the Mother of God," and, "The more the honor and love of Christ increases among men, so much the esteem and honor given to Mary should grow." Martin Luther said Mary is "the highest woman," that "we can never honour her enough," that "the veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart" and that we should "wish that everyone know and respect her." Mary in the Reformation and Protestantismĭespite the Reformers' rejection of the veneration of Mary and other saints, most Protestants have shown a great deal of honor and respect for Mary. The Feast of the Assumption became widespread in the sixth century, and sermons on that occasion tended to emphasize Mary's power in heaven. 594), although it had been present in apocryphal tests since the late fourth century.
The doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary was formally developed by St. Ambrose primarily spoke of Mary as a "type" or symbol of the Church. Mary played a lesser role in the West than in the East at this time. It became common in the fourth century, was opposed by Nestorius, and accepted at the Council of Ephesus in 431. The doctrine of Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer) arose in Alexandria and was probably first used by Origen. This doctrine was accepted by both Western and Eastern Churches from the fifth century onwards. The apocryphal Gospel of James (as seen above), Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and especially Athanasius affirmed Mary's perpetual virginity. c.202) contrasted Mary's obedience with Eve's disobedience. In the writings of the early church fathers, Mary is mentioned only occasionally and primarily in contrast to Eve. The Gospel of James also teaches Mary's perpetual virginity. They took her to live in the Temple in Jerusalem when she was three years old, as Hannah took Samuel to the Tabernacle in the Old Testament.
It states she was the daughter of Joachim and Anna, who were quite old when she was conceived. The Gospel of James contains biographical material about Mary considered plausible by some Orthodox and Catholic Christians. After the resurrection, Mary was present in the Upper Room at Jerusalem with the disciples (Acts 1:14), but this is the last biblical mention of her. In 1997, the Pope speculates that it is highly likely Jesus did appear to his mother (Vatican Information Services, May 21, 1997). In addition, there is no biblical record of the resurrected Jesus appearing to Mary. One of Michaelangelo's most famous sculptures (right) depicts Mary mourning her son's death.Īccording to traditional interpretation, the Virgin Mary was not the "other Mary" who visited the tomb after Jesus' death (Matthew 28:1) – it is said she did not visit the tomb because she already knew he would not be there. Speaking from the cross, Jesus entrusted her care to his disciple John (Jn 19:26). She was present at Jesus' first miracle, which he performed reluctantly at her suggestion (John 2:1f).Īt the crucifixion, Mary and a small group of women were present (Jn 19:25). Mary appears periodically throughout Jesus' ministry, death and resurrection. Mary humbly accepted her divinely-appointed role, saying, "May it be unto me as you have said." She then conceived and gave birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin (Lk 1:31f Mt 1:20, 23).
When Mary was a young woman engaged to Joseph, the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would give birth to a son that would be born of the Holy Spirit. According to Luke, Mary was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (1:32). Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), especially in the birth stories of Matthew (Ch. The Virgin Mary plays a prominent role in the New Testament gospels (i.e. In recent years, Protestant Christianity has sought to recover the importance of Mary, even though it doesn't elevate her as highly as do other branches of the Christian faith. In Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, Mary is the pre-eminent saint and the focus of much popular devotion. Matthew 1:18)īecause of Mary's humility, piety and role as the mother of Jesus Christ, the Savior of humanity, she has been accorded great respect in all branches of Christianity and is a favorite subject in art, music and literature. According to the New Testament, Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant with Jesus (e.g. Mary is known by many titles in Christianity, including the Blessed Virgin Mary (sometimes abbreviated BVM), Queen of Heaven, Theotokos (Mother of God) and Our Lady (Notre-Dame in French Madonna in Italian). Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is one of the most important figures of the Christian religion. The mother of Jesus Christ and one of the most important figures of the Christian religion, especially in Catholicism.
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