Mary, virgin

The Christian tradition has regarded as Joachim and Anne parents of Mary. These names are taken from the Gospel of James, one of the most famous apocryphal gospels and old. This assumption has been benchmarked data for many pious on the life of the Virgin Mary.

There is no security if Mary had sisters. Although some data taken by certain Gospel of St. John and St. Matthew who referred to "his mother's sister," which would be Mary of Cleophas, Hegesippus mentions this Mary as wife of Cleophas, brother of Joseph and therefore concuñada of Mary: a Hebrew marriage would not put the same name to two of his daughters carnal.

Mary was betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth, who was a carpenter. According to the Jewish tradition of the time, young men were desposaban between eighteen and twenty-four, while young women from twelve maidens were considered (na'arah) from that age could marry. The Jewish couple had two moments, betrothal and marriage itself: the first was held at the bride's house and brought with agreements and obligations, even in common life was back. If the bride had been married before expected one year after the betrothal to get to the second part, the marriage itself, where the groom wore the bride solemnly from his parents to his.

The presence of Mary in the biblical narrative begins with the appearance of Archangel Gabriel to Mary, as the Evangelist Luke recounts:

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Nazareth, in search of a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of King David, and the virgin's name was Mary. Entering the angel said to her bedroom: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you ".

From the moment of the Annunciation, when the initial project life of Mary seems to be upset, starts a sequence of risks and uncertainties identified by the Gospels of Luke and Mateo.17 The first uncertainty is presented in relation to the origin of his conception. Indeed, uncertainty seems to strike at the heart of her betrothed Joseph, and leads him to his intention to divorce Mary secretly to put in evidencia.18 So not what God has planned Joseph when he made ​​known his plans for a Dream "Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. "19 Thereafter, Joseph co-participates in the risks that arise in the life of Mary, as detailed below .

Mary, already pregnant, visits her cousin Elizabeth, as the angel Gabriel announced that she, too, although old, was pregnant, Mary travels to a mountain population of Judea, which is now known as Ain Karim.

Arriving Mary Elizabeth carrying the child in her womb leaps for joy. Isabel then recognizes Mary as the "Mother of the Lord" and praises. Maria Isabel answered with a song of praise to God.

Before a decree from Caesar Augustus, that a census ordered, Joseph and Mary are forced to take a journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, when she is about to give birth. As found no place to stay, Mary must give birth in a manger.

On the occasion of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem to comply with the law that mandates that every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord, there is a new sign of insecurity for Mary. A just and devout man named Simeon, who is revealed to not see death before seeing Christ, recognized the son of Mary to salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory of God's people, Israel.

But then a prophecy by Simeon through the figure of Mary:

"His father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother," he was born for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign of contradiction - and a sword will pierce your soul! - So that will be exposed the thoughts of many hearts. "

Days later, some scholars "magicians" of the East are in search of the "King of Kings". When you enter the house, and see Mary with her ​​son fall down and worship him. The visit attracted the attention of Herod who orders to kill all the children under one year of Bethlehem and its vicinity. The risk is hanging back on the Holy Family. But the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and tells her: "Get up, take the child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word.: For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him" .

When they die those seeking the child's life, making him the baby Joseph and his mother and go into the land of Israel. But he learns a new risk: Archelaus reigns in Judea in place of his father Herod, so afraid to go there. And being warned in his dreams, he withdrew to Galilee, Specifically to the city of Nazareth.

After suffering the loss of his son in the Temple of Jerusalem and have searched for 3 days, to find Mary tells her son: "Son Why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I, anxious been looking for you ". Maria Jesus answers with a question that she does not understand.

During the public ministry of Jesus, Mary is mentioned in the Gospels as "his mother", a special situation that does not belong to any community member. "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that you sucked", 43 said a voice from the crowd, and are now crying Christians. As noted below, particular importance is often put in the virginity of Mary in her Immaculate Conception and, above all, in her divine motherhood. Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and do it" 44 Christ says that there are other beings happier than his mother. What I said is that the main reason is the blessedness of Mary, not only in having conceived the Son of God, but hearing his word and have put into practice, believing in him, 24 just as Isabel had said before: "Blessed are you who have believed.".

In the Gospel according to John, the entire public life of Jesus is framed by the only two passages in which his mother appears, and that are unique to this gospel. This is the "Wedding at Cana" and the "death of God", as part of the beginning and end of Jesus' public ministry.

The Wedding at Cana occur when, as Jesus puts it, has not yet reached "its time" .49 However, at the request of Mary, Jesus performs his first sign, that his disciples believe in him. Mary appears to get "Time", 50 which is none other than the glorification of Jesus, his death and resurrection. On the cross, Jesus is calling his Madre.51 As at Cana, Mary is called by Jesus "Woman", and entrusted it "Mother" of the beloved disciple who is with her at the cross.

Mary acquires a symbolic value because at that moment passes, in the figure of the beloved disciple, to be the mother of Christ's disciples. It is called "Woman", and this word refers to the first woman in the beginning of Genesis, "Eve, mother of all living." Many Fathers of the Church (St. Jerome of Estridón, St. Augustine, St. Cyril of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, John Damascene) note in this regard that "if death through Eve, life through Mary came" 52 Now beginning a new creation, a new "woman" who is the Mother of the Church, mother of all living. The Catholic and Orthodox theologies emphasize that, under these two passages are those disciples of the Lord-as Mary calls do what He says, 53 that remain at the foot of the cross of the crucified alongside María54 and the receive as own mother, as did "the disciple whom Jesus loved" 55 48 Other interpretations are discussed below (see section "theological").

Degrees awarded to Mary:

- Mother of God.

- Mother of the Church.

- Redemptrix and lawyer.

- Queen of Heaven.

- Spiritual Mother.

- Universal Mediatrix.

- Ark of the Covenant.

- Educator of the Son of God.

- Hope of the Church and humanity.

- New Eve.

- Daughter of Zion.

- Icon of the Church.

- Immaculate Conception.

- Heavenly Intercessor.

- Advocate.

- Help.

- Mother of unity and hope.

- Mother of Carmel.

- Holy Virgin of virgins.

- Mother of Christ.

- Mother of men.

- Mother of divine grace.

- Mother inviolate.

- Mother most pure.

- Mother ever virgin.

- Immaculate Mother.

- Mother Friendly.

.- Mother admirable.

- Mother of Good Counsel.

- Mother of the Creator.

- Mother of the Savior.

- Mother of mercy.

- Virgin most prudent.

- Virgin most venerable.

- Virgin most renowned.

- Powerful Virgin.

- Virgin most merciful.

- Faithful Virgin.

- Mirror of Justice.

- Throne of Wisdom.

- Cause of our joy.

- Spiritual vessel.

- Vessel of honor.

- Glass of eminent piety.

- Mystical Rose.

- Tower of David.

- Ivory Tower.

- House of gold.

- Gate of Heaven.

- Morning Star.

- Health of the Sick.

- Refuge of sinners.

- Comfort of the afflicted.

- Help of Christians.

- Queen of Angels.

- Queen of the Patriarchs.

- Queen of Prophets.

- Queen of the Apostles.

- Queen of Martyrs.

- Queen of confessors.

- Queen of virgins.

- Queen of All Saints.

- Queen conceived without original sin.

- Queen assumed into heaven.

- Queen of the Holy Rosary.

- Queen of the family.

- Queen of Peace.