The Life of the Virgin Mary from Betrothal to Crucifixion and Beyond

I learned to love the Virgin Mary through the Sacrament of the Present Moment.

• Mary was the simplest of all creatures, and the most closely united to God.

• In all things was she ruled by the divine will.

• She lived in obscurity, a domestic life, raising a family, and did it all for the glory of God. 

Her words guide us as we hear Jesus' voice: Whatever He saith unto you, Do it.

August 15 is the feast day of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Madonna and Child, 1475; Source: Britannica: Antonello da Messina: 1475;

The Virgin Mary* (14BC?-43AD). is an essential part of Christian tradition. Her life is a quietly powerful story of humility, grace, and unwavering faith. For billions around the globe, she serves as a figure of inspiration.

An asterisk* after a name means the person has a bio in my book SPIRITUAL LIVES.

From the miraculous conception of Jesus to her presence in critical moments of His life, Mary's journey carries immense significance. This post will explore key events in Mary's life, highlighting submission and faithfulness to her son and the Son of God.

The Annunciation: A Divine Encounter

Mary's extraordinary journey begins with the Annunciation. Here, the angel Gabriel delivers a life-changing message: she would conceive the Son of God through the Holy Spirit, despite being a virgin. This moment is a testament to God's power and a reflection of Mary's profound faith.

The Annunciation by Paolo de Matteis, 1712, Sai Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis. The white lily in the angel's hand is symbolic of Mary's purity[n 3] in Marian art. Public Domain.

Mary's humble response to Gabriel's message exemplifies her character. She famously states, "Be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). This simple declaration underscores her willingness to embrace God's plan, setting a powerful example for believers today.

Betrothal to Joseph: A Test of Faith

Mary was betrothed to Joseph* (50BC? - 20AD?), a significant commitment in their culture. In first-century Judaism, being found pregnant while betrothed could lead to severe repercussions, including public disgrace or worse. There was no easy path ahead for Mary, yet she remained steadfast in her faith.

When Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy, he wrestled with his feelings, torn between love and doubt. An angel appeared to him in a dream, reassuring him that the child was indeed divinely conceived. This divine intervention allowed Joseph to support Mary, demonstrating the importance of faith and obedience in both their lives.

The Birth of Jesus: A Humble Beginning

Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem. The scene of the Son of God being born in such humble surroundings speaks volumes about His mission. Angels announced this significant moment, and even shepherds made their way to honor the newborn King.

Adoration of the Shepherds by Dutch painter Matthias Stom, c. 1650 Public Domain

Mary's journey as a mother was filled with both joy and hardship. She nurtured Jesus, witnessing His growth from a child to a man. As He began His ministry, she stood by Him, showing unwavering love and support. According to the Gospels, she spent about thirty years nurturing Jesus before His public life began.

The Virgin Mary at the Wedding at Cana: A Mother's Influence

Fast forward nearly thirty years, and Mary appears at the wedding in Cana. This event is notable as it marks the beginning of Jesus’ public miracles. When the hosts ran out of wine, Mary stepped in, urging Jesus to help. She told the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5).

This moment illustrates the deep bond between Mary and Jesus. Her faith and maternal instinct pushed Him to unveil His divine powers publicly. It shows how a mother's belief can inspire greatness in her child, reminding us of the profound impact of maternal love.

The Marriage at Cana by Maerten de Vos, c. 1596, Public Domain

The Crucifixion: A Mother's Sorrow

One of the most heartbreaking moments in Mary's life occurs at the crucifixion of Jesus. Witnessing her Son's suffering and death filled her heart with unimaginable sorrow. Many mothers can relate to this profound pain; it's a testament to the love Mary had for Jesus.

Mary's grief during this event highlights the strength many mothers display during times of hardship. She exemplified resilience amidst suffering, reminding us that love often requires sacrifice.

Hendrick ter Brugghen 1625 The Crucifixion with the Virgin and Saint John Public Domain

The Resurrection and Beyond: A Legacy of Faith

After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Mary continued to play a vital role in the early Christian community. She was present at Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 disciples. This pivotal moment facilitated the birth of the Church.

Pentecost source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld_Bibel_in_Bildern_1860_226.png

Mary is not mentioned again in the Bible. She died in 43 in Jerusalem or Ephesus. Her legacy was of the pure Church of the first century, a glorious church without spot or wrinkle washed in the blood of the Lamb. Thousands of such churches continue to this day, but the Roman Catholic Church has been corrupted.

Mariology

Statue of Santa Maria Assunta, in Attard, Malta

Sadly, Mariology was introduced at the First Council of Ephesus in 431, officially identifying her as Theotokos, which translates to "Mother of God." They did this although they knew that when Mary came to see Jesus, He asked, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 

Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. What a glorious calling we have!

How did this false teaching take hold? As more pagans joined the church, they brought their ideas with them. Two of these were making a visual representation of their gods and praying to them for help.

Both of them were anathema to Jews and Christians. But gradually these ideas spread like a cancer through the Church.

Around the same time, icons of Mary and Jesus were sanctioned in the East, and devotion to Mary blossomed in the sixth century under official patronage and imperial promotion at the Court of Constantinople. None of this is Biblical.

Even so, prayer to Mary was to follow. The earliest Hail Mary is found in Girolamo Savonarola’s (1452-1498) writings. Following the Council of Trent, the final Hail Mary prayer was put into the breviary in 1568 by Pope St. Pius V.

More corruption has set in, as evidenced by the 19th-century idea of Mary's Immaculate Conception, which exempts her from original sin.

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox teachings also extend to the end of Mary's life, concluding with the Assumption of Mary, formally established as a dogma in 1950, and the Dormition of the Mother of God, respectively.

All of this has created a false gospel, funneling through Mary, now an idol in competition with her Son, who taught her and us:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father but through me.

Mary knew this and would be horrified to see this statue being exalted and presented as another Gospel.

Reflection on Mary's Enduring Legacy

The life of the Virgin Mary presents a rich narrative marked by faith, humility, and grace. From her acceptance of God's plan to her steadfast support of Jesus throughout His life, Mary remains a role model for many. Her actions and words continue to motivate and uplift people, underscoring the importance of faith in daily life.

As we reflect on Mary's journey, we should strive to face our challenges with the same grace she demonstrated. Above all, we should live as she did "according to Thy Word," and obey her direction, whatsoever He saith unto you do it!

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There is hope for those who have been deceived and misled, often by those they love. We need to pray for them today and ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to two texts from God's Word:

1Ti_2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Exodus 20:3-5, words spoken by God Himself.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:

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Virgin mo­ther, oh, re­joice!

Glad and hon­ored is thy womb,

Where the Son of God Him­self

Deigns our na­ture to as­sume:

Joy be to thy fruit­ful breast,

For the Son of God lies there;

Very God, a hu­man child,

Is thy high and ho­ly care.

He, the Fa­ther’s on­ly Son,

And by whom all things were made,

Helpless, clothed in mor­tal flesh,

In thy ten­der arms is laid:

He in Heav­en is the source

Whence the joy of an­gels flows,

Here on earth, an in­fant weak,

Thirst and hun­ger both He knows.

There He rules o’er all that are,

Here He doth His mo­ther’s will;

There He gives His high com­mands,

Here com­mands He doth ful­fill;

There on high­est throne He sits

Far above the vault­ed skies,

Here en­wrapped in swad­dling clothes

In a man­ger low He lies.

Mortal, think up­on these things,

Study well the depth to know

Of the all em­brac­ing love

Which these won­drous les­sons show:

Of for­giv­eness lose not hope,

Though thou mayst have sin­nèd much,

When the proofs of love abound,

When the proofs of love are such.

Seek the bless­èd fount and source

Whence in­dul­gence flows to all,

And be­fore the Sav­ior’s feet

In con­fid­ing meek­ness fall—

Jesu, on the err­ing look,

All the wan­der­ers re­store,

And amid Thy hosts re­deemed

Set them safe for­ev­er­more.

Words: From the Mis­sal of No­yon (1541?) (Læ­ta­re! Puer­pe­ra). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John W. He­wett in Ly­ra Mes­sia­ni­ca, ed­it­ed by Or­by Ship­ley (Lon­don: Long­man, Green, Long­man, Ro­berts & Green, 1864