The Encyclopedia of World Religions

Mary, apparitions of S 281

in Luke. In Mark, Jesus’ mother (unnamed) tries to convince him to quit making a spectacle of himself (3.31–35). In John, she stands at the foot of the cross (19.25–27). Mary last appears in an assembly of the first Christians (A CTS OF THE A POSTLES 1.14). Christians have many teachings about Mary. These teachings sometimes have very old sources outside the Bible. An especially important example is a writing called the Protoevangelium of James. The most important teaching about Mary is the VIRGIN BIRTH . This teaching says that Mary became pregnant with Jesus before she had sexual rela tions. Almost all Christians maintain this position. Roman Catholic Christians add that Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life. Protestants object to this. They point out that the N EW T ESTAMENT talks about Jesus’ brothers. Catholics hold that these brothers were not children of Mary. In the ancient church, the idea that Jesus had a mother was especially important in arguments with Gnostics ( see G NOSTICISM ). Gnostics denied that Jesus was a real human being. In the fourth century Christians also argued over whether Jesus was the creator or a created being. They decided on the first option. As the Nicene C REED puts it, Jesus is “begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.” But that led to another question: If Jesus is G OD , should Christians call Mary “Mother of God?” In the fifth century two councils of bishops decided that they could use this phrase. The Roman Catholic Church also adopted other teachings about Mary. From ancient times many Catholics had believed that Mary never com mitted an actual SIN . The medieval philosopher Duns Scotus taught that she was free from original sin, too. The second idea, known as the “immacu late conception,” became official Catholic teach ing in 1854. In 1950, the Catholic Church officially adopted another teaching about Mary: She did not die but was taken physically into HEAVEN . This teaching is known as the assumption. No Christians WORSHIP Mary, but Roman Catho lic and Orthodox Christians “venerate” her. Devo tion to Mary was particularly important to Pope John Paul II (1920–2005). Holy days celebrate her birth, immaculate conception, the ANGEL ’s announce

ment of Jesus’ conception, and Mary’s purification in the Temple after Jesus’ birth. Many Christians call upon Mary to intercede for them with Jesus and God. One way to do this is with the PRAYER Ave Maria, “Hail, Mary . . .” Many great works of Euro pean art depict Mary. She is often shown with the baby Jesus or standing at the foot of the cross. In the last 500 years, Mary has also appeared to vari ous people ( see M ARY , APPARITIONS OF ). Not everyone accepts these teachings, claims, and practices. Orthodox Christians reject the idea that Mary never sinned. Most Protestants reject all veneration of Mary. Traditional Muslims accept the virgin birth of Jesus, but Jews and many modern scholars, including more liberal Christians, reject it. Many feminists also criticize the image of Mary as continuing male-centered stereotypes. Others, however, find her an inspira tion. She was an unwed mother who belonged to a politically oppressed group. She also saw her son grow up to lead a group considered radical and dangerous and as a result be executed—an experience with which mothers in the developing world can identify. Further reading: Sarah Jane Boss, Mary (New York: Continuum, 2004); Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson, eds., Mary, Mother of God (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans, 2004); Jaroslav Pelikan, Mary through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1996); Jenny Robertson, Mary of Nazareth (New York: Continuum, 2001). Mary, apparitions of Reported appearances of M ARY , the Mother of J ESUS . Through the centuries Christians, above all those in R OMAN C ATHOLICISM , have told of seeing visions, miraculous pictures, and other manifestations of Mary, who is often referred to as Our Lady. When she has spoken in these appearances, she has offered both words of encouragement and stern admonitions to the faith ful, generally in very simple language. Numerous such apparitions of Mary, as of other SAINTS , were recounted in the Middle Ages.