Who Was Mary? How to understand Mary from Gospels?

Understanding Virgin Mary from Gospels

Catholic audiences are always enthralled with two subjects: the Eucharist, with its countless treasures found in the Mass, and the Virgin Mary, who is both our spiritual mother and the holy mother of Jesus, the Son of God.

Following his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus' disciples commemorated his life and teachings, particularly via Eucharist, baptism, and liturgy. They emphasized Jesus as the "Word of life" rather than just the events of his life, focusing less on specific biographical facts and more on his mission and message.

It may seem pointless to talk about Mary's life and times given the dearth of information available regarding her early years, old age, and her very rare public appearances with Jesus. That being said, the exact reverse is true. The remarkable influence of Mary on early Christian remembrance is significant. She is the most frequently mentioned woman in the Gospels, which makes her a crucial component of the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.

One thing is certain: Mary, the virgin of Nazareth, was born into a pious Jewish family. Joseph, her husband, was called "an upright man" (Matthew 1:19), and Elizabeth and her husband Zachary were described as "upright in the sight of God" (Luke 1:6). The Holy Family celebrated the feast of Passover in Jerusalem each year (Luke 2:41).

Mary was with Jesus all the time

Mary is depicted in St. Luke's "Gospel portrait" in great detail, appearing at significant junctures in Jesus' life, including conception, birth, infancy, childhood, and adulthood. The well-known "Hail Mary" prayer begins with a heavenly greeting to Mary in Nazareth.

We hear Elizabeth praising Mary's motherhood in faith during her visit to Elizabeth after she became unexpectedly pregnant with John the Baptist. Her words are immortalized in the "Hail Mary," which is sung in various situations and is also known as the "Ave Maria" around the world.

When Jesus was twelve, he caused Mary and Joseph much distress by staying behind in Jerusalem following the Passover pilgrimage. Mary told him how distressed they were when she found him, but then she heard him make an enigmatic remark to being in his father's house. Following this, Mary was a part of Jesus' tranquil childhood in Nazareth before he started his public mission.

According to St. Luke's account in the Acts of the Apostles, Mary was in the upper room with the apostles waiting for the outpouring of the Pentecostal Spirit at the end of Jesus' life, following his dreadful passion, death, and triumphant resurrection and ascension. Her arrival was of great importance to the young Church.