Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary was a first-century Galilean Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph, and the mother of Jesus. According to Christian theology, She conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit while still a virgin. The Gods Angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

Jesus and Mary

Mary's revolutionary ideology

Mary's revolutionary ideology is depicted in the Mary's song, while visiting Elizabeth: Lord's mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

Mary and Joseph’s Long, Cold difficult journey

Holy Family with the Holy Spirit

Joseph and Mary’s hardships would have begun more than a week before the birth of their son, when the couple had to leave their home in Nazareth, in the northern highlands of Galilee, to register for a Roman census. They had to travel 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flat lands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem. Travelling by Donkeys, walking and walking. And the trip through the Judean desert would have taken place during the winter. It’s nasty, miserable. And at night it would be freezing. We have no idea how difficult it was.

The woman is nine months pregnant. When they finally reach their destination after an arduous journey, there is no place to stay. The woman gives birth in a stable. It is widely agreed that Jesus was born in a cave used for housing animals. We can imagine the noisy and dirty conditions under which Jesus was born.

A few days after the birth of Jesus, Joseph is told (in a dream) to flee to Egypt. He is informed of this because Herod the Great will soon issue a command that all male children two years old and younger, in and around Bethlehem, are to be put to death. Their journey from Bethlehem to what is Egyptian-controlled territory (which was outside the jurisdiction of Herod) was at least 65 kilometers (40 miles). Again travelling by Donkeys and walking in difficult terrain. Finally, the travels of Mary and Joseph from Egyptian territory all the way north to Nazareth is a journey of at least 106 miles (170 kilometers).

Mary, the strong and courageous woman

Mary was a courageous woman who stood by Jesus even when the crowds turned against him and even though she knew he would face a tragic death. At the very end, she is there, standing, looking at her son on the cross. Maybe she heard comments: ‘Look, there is the mother of one of the three delinquents.’ But she remains. Silent. She is the mother, she does not deny her son. From the cross her son says, "'woman', behold your children." He doesn’t say 'mother,' he says 'woman', a strong, courageous woman! The scene of Mary at the foot of the cross is something to be contemplated in silence rather than explained.

  • According to Catholic and Eastern Christian teachings, at the end of her earthly life God raised her body directly into heaven; this is known in the Christian West as the Assumption.
  • Mary has been venerated since early Christianity, and is considered by millions to be the most meritorious saint of the religion. She miraculously appeared to believers many times over the centuries.
  • Mary also has the highest position in Islam among all women. She is mentioned in the Quran more often than in the New Testament, where two of the longer chapters of the Quran are devoted to her and her family.