Topic 5 of 11
Mary, the mother of Jesus
Every Christian honours Mary as blessed among women. The Catechism also teaches that she was preserved from all sin from her conception, remained ever-virgin and was taken up body and soul into heaven. Here is what Scripture says about her.
Where we agree
Mary was chosen by God, believed His word and is rightly called blessed. Her faith is an example to every Christian.
28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
Luke 1:28 (WEB) · context
38Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38 (WEB) · context
45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
Luke 1:45 (WEB) · context
What the Catechism teaches
Three Catholic doctrines about Mary go beyond the Bible's own words: the Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity and her Assumption.
The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 491 · official text
the liturgy of the Church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the "Ever-virgin".
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 499 · official text
when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 966 · official text
What Scripture says
Mary rejoiced in God her Saviour, and Scripture says all have sinned. The Gospels speak of Jesus' brothers and sisters. Scripture says nothing about Mary being taken up into heaven. When a woman blessed Jesus' mother, Jesus answered that those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed.
46Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. 47My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
Luke 1:46-47 (WEB) · context
23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 (WEB) · context
55Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
Matthew 13:55-56 (WEB) · context
27It came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which nursed you!” 28But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
Luke 11:27-28 (WEB) · context
How Catholics answer
Catholics answer that Mary needed a Saviour too, and was saved in advance, at her conception. They read Jesus' brothers as cousins or as Joseph's children from an earlier marriage.
What Scripture answers
These are explanations from later tradition, not statements of Scripture. We honour Mary most by doing what she said at Cana about her Son: do whatever He tells you.
5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
John 2:5 (WEB) · context
The good news
Saved by grace, through faith, in Christ
Salvation is God's free gift to everyone who trusts Jesus Christ alone.