Why wasn’t Jesus named “Emmanuel,” since that is what the angel said he should be named (Matt. From the very beginning of her Son’s life, the cross was always in view for Mary—from the scandal surrounding her pregnancy to the arduous journey to Bethlehem; from the birth in the stable to the flight into Egypt; from Simeon’s prophesy to the loss of her Son for three days in his youth. Though they were actually uncle and nephew, they called one another “brother.” Moreover, in the New Testament, Jesus told us to call one another “brothers” (see Matthew 23:8). Fundamentalists are sometimes horrified when the Virgin Mary is referred to as the Mother of God. Heos hou, it is argued, would indicate the action of the first clause does not continue. Notice, the James of whom St. Paul speaks was both a “brother of the Lord” and an “apostle.” There are only two apostles named James among the twelve. Thus, James the apostle and Jesus were not blood brothers. The song “Mary, Did You Know?” can be understood in an orthodox manner. But for those inclined to argue the point, the Catechism of the Catholic Church uses another line of reasoning: [T]he Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. Along with the other mentions of women in Jesus’ geneaology, this was unusual as Jewish mothers were generally not counted among ancestors at that time. Once her real need for information is satisfied, Mary does not ask for any further assurances. The miracle promised Mary, on the other hand, was entirely different. What is the Immaculate Conception? First, we must understand that the term brother has a wide semantic range in Scripture. He said “you Catholics” because he went to a local Bible Church but had been coming to a Life Teen Summer Bible Study with some of his Catholic friends. However, some will argue that the James spoken of in Galatians 1 was not an apostle—or, at least, he was not one of the Twelve. Thus, Mary and Joseph “not having come together” would have then ended after Jesus was born. They were married! Did you know That your baby boy will one day rules the nations? If Jesus had brethren (brothers) and sisters, doesn’t this mean that Mary had other children? Tim Staples tackles common objections to the Catholic teaching on the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Matt. 1:16). “Until I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching.” Does this mean Timothy should stop teaching after St. Paul comes? When Mary asked the angel how she was going to conceive a child in Luke 1:34, the angel responded: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Sung by Pastor Chris Gorshe. The Catechism here refers to the fact that, fourteen chapters after we find the “brothers” of the Lord listed as “James, Joses, Simon and Judas,” we find “James and Joses” mentioned again, but this time their mother is revealed as being named Mary—but not Mary the mother of Jesus. Abraham and Lot are classic examples of “brother” being used for an extended relation (see Genesis 13:8 and 14:12). Does St. Matthew here teach Mary to have had other children? With respect to the second set of questions, did she know what her son would do, the answer is a bit more speculative: “Well, maybe not exactly, but she could have guessed much of it.” Mary certainly had at least a basic understanding of her Hebrew faith and would have known the coming of the Messiah would be occasioned by a variety of miracles such as the … Honest Answers to Questions About Catholic Faith & Beliefs. In the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, he confirms that she will bear the Son of God. In Luke 1:34, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, she asked the question, literally translated from the Greek, “How shall this be, since I know not man?” This question makes no sense unless Mary had a vow of virginity. Mary, did you know? A Catholic Answers Tract. appropriate for Catholics? Absent a ruling from the Church, we just don’t know for certain. Tthis is not a contradiction. The Church is officially silent on the issue of whether or not Mary suffered pain in childbirth, although some Fathers, Doctors, and theologians assume that her immaculate state rendered her free from it. Propositions about a preposition. Catholics who do not understand the theological implications may be left confused on the matter of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. Catholics clarify that Mary isn’t worshiped and adored as God is (latria), but she is venerated (doulia), and that veneration sets her apart from other mediators (hyperdoulia, 971). Mary is depicted as the spouse of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. The lame will leap. The first James is revealed to have been a son of Zebedee. 3. Mary is depicted as the spouse of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. Having dispatched some of the objections to Mary’s perpetual virginity, perhaps some positive reasons for faith would be in order. Not according to the biblical record. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. But the number one Person of Interest is the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially at Christmastime. Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. Hello. The question Mary did you know? . But I also get why “Mary Did You Know?” is okay though theologically imprecise in the same way that singing “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” at the Nativity instead of the Annunciation is okay though theologically imprecise. It is unthinkable to believe that Jesus would take his mother away from his family in disobedience to the law. By no means! The preservation of … Is not his mother called Mary? First, as St. Matthew points out in his genealogy in chapter 1, St. Joseph was in line to be a successor of David as King of Israel. If Mary’s labor to bring Christ into the world was painful, just as is ordinary childbirth, it may have been so in order to allow her to be in greater conformity to the life of her Son, who also would suffer. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matt. The passage in question is as follows: When they [the Magi] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo The blind will see. Perhaps the two most commonly employed texts by those who deny Mary’s perpetual virginity are: Matthew 13:55-56: “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not meant to belittle Mary. What is needed is the second part of the song where Mary answers....."Yes, I did Know." And are not his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? Matthew 1:24-25: “And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. Here are some biblical examples that may help clarify things: In recent years, some have argued that because Matthew 1:25 uses the Greek words heos hou for “until,” whereas the texts I mention above from the New Testament use heos alone, there is a difference in meaning. Christ too was sinless and went through hideous suffering on the cross. That is, in itself, a Christmas miracle. So what about Matthew 1:24-25 and the claim Jesus was Mary’s “firstborn son” and that Joseph “knew her not until” Christ was born? However, their reaction often rests upon a misapprehension not only of what this particular title of Mary signifies but also of who Jesus was—and of what their own theological forebears, the Protestant Reformers, had to say regarding this doctrine. Jesus ascended by His own power. Matt. You may have heard of the acronym LGBT, but did you know the full acronym (LGBTQQIP2SAA) includes things like pan-sexuality, gender fluidity, and intersex? Christian scholars have long thought, however, that because the prophesied relationship between David and Jesus appeared to be much more than a legal relationship (cf. That deliverance was done in anticipation of her Son’s sacrificial death on Calvary. That is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Thus, Jesus committed his mother to St. John, who was faithful and present at the foot of the cross. I may say to you, “Until we meet again, God bless you.” 1:23)? What’s more, Mary herself said, ‘My soul rejoices in God my savior’ in Luke 1:47. Unless, of course, that woman had a vow of virginity! Mary is regarded as the Mother of the Church (963). Michelle Arnold answers whether it should be, along with other apologetics questions about Mary, at the Catholic Answers Blog. Catholic Answers is a media company dedicated to sharing what the Church really teaches, and we are the world’s largest source for reliable information about the Catholic Church’s doctrine, tradition, and beliefs. We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us (Rom. Scripture stating Joseph “knew [Mary] not until she brought forth her firstborn” would not necessarily mean they “knew” each other after she brought forth Jesus. Second, if we examine more closely the example of James, one of these four “brothers” of the Lord mentioned in Matthew 13:55, we discover him to actually be a cousin or some other variety of relative of Jesus rather than a blood brother. In 20 Answers: Mary you’ll find biblical evidence for Marian doctrine and devotion, answers to common objections to Catholic teachings about Mary, and guidance on how to imitate Christ—which we should do in all things—by loving and honoring his mot This is … Catholic Answers. 2:10-11). 1:21, Luke 1:31); “name,” in this case, is used in the sense of “to call” (i.e., “they shall call him Emmanuel”). Normally, after the espousal the husband would prepare a home for his new bride and then come and receive her into his home where the union would be consummated. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Easy enough. Rom. However, it is interesting that Mary is specifically named in the Matthean geneaology alongside Joseph (cf. In fact, the evidence proves the contrary. . (Had she expected to do so, she would have assumed that the pregnancy would take place within her upcoming marriage.) But is it heretical? So, she did know, but that does not make her divine or somthing to worship. Such crèches are not a strictly factual depiction of historical events but artistic representations of the major figures in the Christmas story gathered around the Infant Jesus. If Jesus was Mary’s firstborn, doesn’t this imply there was at least a second-born? When Mary then came up pregnant, St. Joseph would have been required to divorce her, because she would then belong to another (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Jeremiah 3:1). The song is kitsch! The problems with this theory begin with the fact that there is no scholarship available that confirms it. Some songs, like “Mary Did You Know,” even if very affecting in a sentimental way, actually preclude Christmas. This indicates she was not planning on the normal course of events for her future with St. Joseph. Did Mary suffer pain in childbirth? This claim reveals a low and unbiblical Christology. These things that we find in the Gospels that the song, "Mary Did you know" point to for our benefit. I have always heard that because Mary was sinless she was free from labor pain. is a popular song at Christmas Mass. With a shrug. Thus in Psalm 103, we pray, "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! For example, St. Paul tells us: Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. The gift of his Mother was one of his last wishes and gifts to us. 1:3), that the Virgin Mary must also have been of the house of David. The blind will see The deaf will hear And the dead will live again The lame will leap The dumb will speak The praises of the lamb. I suspect that your inquirers are hoping to score points because nativity scenes often include the Magi at the manger of Christ. The question why Catholics pray to Mary still astounds me today. For an example of the Old Testament precedent for this, see the story of Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons Manasseh and Ephraim (cf. Some of the lyrics suggest that Mary needed to be delivered from sin. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. 1:18–25), Joseph became Jesus’ legal father. And why is St. Joseph’s genealogy given by St. Matthew instead of the Virgin Mary’s? How could Jesus be the Son of David if he was not the biological son of St. Joseph? This is precisely why St. Joseph intended to “divorce her quietly” (Matt. Catholics believe that Mary did indeed need to be delivered from sin. Why wasn’t Mary also punished for doubting? 28:20). Catholics believe that Mary was preserved from all sin from the first moment of her conception. Though she became the most famous woman in the history of the world, Mary was born a simple Jewish girl from a poor family in the house of David,i some 2,000 years ago. But the Virgin never, ever, even in the darkest of times, lost faith. When St. Paul wrote about going “up to Jerusalem” to see St. Peter, he was writing about an event that occurred many years earlier, shortly after he had converted. I may say to you, “Until we meet again, God bless you.” Does that mean after we meet again, God curse you? Thus, St. Joseph became Mary’s earthly spouse and protector as well as the protector of the child Jesus. Until is often used in Scripture as part of an idiomatic expression similar to our own usage in English. Fundamentalists challenge the Catholic practice of asking saints and angels to pray for us. The less someone speaks in Scripture, it seems the more people want to know about that person. The word Emmanuel translates to “God is with us.” Matthew recalls the messianic prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 and states that its ultimate fulfillment is found in Mary’s Son: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. An obvious question remains: Why did St. Joseph then “take [Mary] his wife,” according to Matthew 1:24, if she belonged to the Holy Spirit? Jesus gave us his Mother while he was consummating the sacrifice of Himself. Emmanuel, “God is with us,” also calls to mind the last verse in Matthew, in which Christ says, “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matt. As we read the gospels, we see unmistakably that Mary is the Mother of Jesus. When we consider Mary and Joseph were already “espoused,” according to verse 27 of this same chapter, we understand Mary and Joseph to then have had what would be akin to a ratified marriage in the New Covenant. The conclusion becomes apparent: “James and Joses” are “brothers” of Jesus, but they are not blood brothers. Luke 1:33 says, “[H]e will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”. 5:3–5). A natural question is why Joseph and Mary weren't monitoring Jesus more closely. Mary, did you know That your baby boy is lord of all creation? Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. That demonstrated a lack of faith. However, by the laws of the time, the legal relationship would have sufficed to count Jesus as the Son of David. The deaf will hear. Strictly speaking, we need not assume that Mary was free from labor pains. Luke 2:22-35 for December 29, the Fifth Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord. Matt. "Mary, Did You Know?" This Christmas season, … Her intercession can bring “eternal salvation,” and she is … From what I can tell, there are two basic concerns coming from Catholics. They were called firstborn at birth. Mary Did You Know performed on Christmas Eve 2013 by members of Our Redeemer Church in Cohasset, MN. That is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. 1:18-19). Each step from the Annunciation to the cross, and beyond, was one of sorrow. The Church is, after all, “the bride of Christ.” But in the case of Mary and Joseph, Joseph was essential in the life of Mary, his spouse, for at least two obvious reasons. In Luke 1:34, when Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, she asked the question, literally translated from the Greek, “How shall this be, since I know not man?” This question makes no … Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation? Thus, if Jesus was to be the true “son of David” and king of Israel (see II Samuel 7:14; Hebrews 1:5; Revelation 19:16, 22:16), he needed to be the son of St. Joseph. When she was fourteen or fifteen years old, God chose her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, God incarnate; this simple teenage girl, then became the Mother of God.ii She was, as a matter of … Does this text mean that St. Paul would not be held in custody after he was “sent” to Caesar? Composed in the 1990s, the modern Christmas song “Mary, Did You Know?” has swept both churches and radio airwaves, quickly becoming part of the annual Christmas music canon. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother (Gal. It is not intended to say anything about the future beyond that point. Catholic Answers. That would mean St. Joseph would have had the right to the marriage bed at that point. Another argument against the song is that it’s just a bad song. The dead will live again. And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS” (Douay-Rheims). Some will claim Jesus did this because his brothers and sisters were not there. Abraham and Sarah’s miraculous baby Isaac should have been the sign for him that God could and would provide him and Elizabeth with their own son. “For he [Christ] must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” Does this mean Christ’s reign will end? The song “Mary, Did You Know?” can be understood in an orthodox manner. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to answer apologetics questions with “Scripture doesn’t say.” Two New Testament figures that garner this kind of interest are St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist. Note his reasoning to the angel that “I [Zechariah] am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” Zechariah, a religiously-educated Jew and indeed a priest of the Temple, should have known that this exact same miracle of late-in-life fertility had been granted to Abraham and Sarah, the founding patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish people. The fact is, Jesus had no brothers and sisters, so he had the responsibility, on a human level, to take care of his mother. The Church has no position on whether the Magi found the Infant Jesus in a manger or in a house. So she needs information about how it is possible for a woman to have a baby without the participation of her husband. Mary's knowing is what makes her so very special. Scripture’s statement that Joseph “knew [Mary] not until she brought forth her firstborn” would not necessarily mean they did “know” each other after she brought forth Jesus. 3. He was basically going up to the apostles to receive approval lest he “should be running or had run in vain.” It would be more likely he would have here been speaking about apostles proper, or the Twelve. So, let’s look at a few of the questions the apologetics department ordinarily receives. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. They had left him. She clearly understood herself to be a sinner if she admits to needing a savior.”The Catholic AnswerNot a few Protestants are surprised to discover the Catholic Church actually agrees that Mary was “saved.” Indeed, Mary needed a savior! When Catholics call Mary their mother, it may seem like they are taking away some of the respect due to Jesus and giving it to Mary. The Catholic Church commemorates Mary’s Immaculate Conception on December 8 th of each year. Obviously, this doesn’t infer that all Christians have the same physical mother. Mary is the object of devotion in Roman Catholicism as the Queen of Heaven. It’s a reflection of the heart of the person writting the song. Analogously, one could say of baseball legend, Babe Ruth, “They called him the Sultan of Swat,” without intending to mean that “the Sultan of Swat” was George Herman Ruth Jr.’s given name. It can mean not only a blood brother but an extended relative or even a spiritual brother. In John 19:26, Jesus gave his mother to the care of St. John even though by law the next eldest sibling would have the responsibility to care for her. That said, the lyrics are ambiguous and their authors probably did not have this theological explanation in mind. The Holy Spirit is Mary’s spouse, but St. Joseph was her spouse and protector on Earth. Is the Christmas song titled Mary, Did You Know? Even so, it is also true that she could have been free from childbirth pain. Mary and Joseph would hardly have wanted to stay in a stable with a newborn any longer than absolutely necessary. Here's what you need to know. And even if it were him, his father was Zebedee. Gen. 48:3–6). Because she knew He would be crucified." If we think of Mary at the moment in history when she was cradling the Child Jesus, which is the moment at which the song describes her, then she had already been immaculately conceived but the sacrificial death that her deliverance anticipated was still in the future at that point in time. The fact that Joseph and Mary did not realize Jesus was not among them can seem surprising. The second James who was an apostle, according to Luke 6:15-16, is most likely to whom St. Paul refers, and his father was Alphaeus, not Joseph. Tradition says that Mary visited this path daily. It is very possible that by the time the Magi found the Holy Family, they had indeed been able to find accommodations in town. She was delivered from ever having any stain of sin on her soul from the very moment of her conception. The action of the main clause did not cease with heos hou. “Name,” in this sense, does not refer to the actual name Joseph and Mary were to give to their Son (cf. Acts 25:21 should suffice to clear up the matter: But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until (Greek, heos hou) I could send him to Caesar. Zechariah was punished for not believing the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement that Elizabeth would bear a child. A phrase like this is used to emphasize what is being described before the “until” is fulfilled. This — and not the virginal conception of Jesus — is the Immaculate Conception. When Mary asked the angel how she was going to conceive a child in Luke 1:34, the angel responded: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.