"Behold your mother"

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Hello. I have a question about John 19:26-27 regarding the universal motherhood of Mary.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son.“Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27).

I know that John was a symbol of the whole Church, and Jesus was giving His mother symbolically to all of us, not only to the Apostle John. But I am trying to show Early Church evidence of this to someone who does not believe this.

Could someone direct me to an early Christian document or quotes from Church Fathers demonstrating that this symbolism dates back to the first centuries? Thank you!
 
I struck out in my Jurgen’s doctrinal index. If any of the Early Fathers interpreted this verse in this way, the records don’t seem to have survived.

BTW, this interpretation of that verse is not doctrinal. People are free to disagree that the verse extendeds to encompass the entire Church.
 
oceansenora said:
Hello. I have a question about John 19:26-27 regarding the universal motherhood of Mary.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son.“Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27).

I know that John was a symbol of the whole Church, and Jesus was giving His mother symbolically to all of us, not only to the Apostle John. But I am trying to show Early Church evidence of this to someone who does not believe this.

Could someone direct me to an early Christian document or quotes from Church Fathers demonstrating that this symbolism dates back to the first centuries? Thank you!
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Try this link out: home.earthlink.net/~mysticalrose/marian10.html

I think the quote from Origen is particularly interesting, because he was routing about that specific passage and he wrote on the 200s A.D.
 
If you have the Navarre Bible’s edition of the gospels or the New Testament handy, I assume that they’d have the relevant references to the Fathers in their notes.

I’m not sure whether notes to Lumen Gentium reference the relevant Fathers.
 
The Fathers generally did not say that the Beloved Disciple represents, or is equal to, the Church and all Christians. They were more concerned with the example of virtue that Christ showed us, even at the moment of greatest agony. Chrysostom, for example:

newadvent.org/fathers/240185.htm

“Behold your son . . . behold your mother.”

And He, having committed His mother to John, said, “Behold your Son.” O the honor! With what honor did He honor the disciple! When He Himself was now departing, He committed her to the disciple to take care of. For since it was likely that, being His mother, she would grieve, and require protection, He with reason entrusted her to the beloved. To him He says, “Behold your mother.” This He said, knitting them together in charity; which the disciple understanding, took her to his own home. “But why made He no mention of any other woman, although another stood there?” To teach us to pay more than ordinary respect to our mothers. For as when parents oppose us on spiritual matters, we must not even own them, so when they do not hinder us, we ought to pay them all becoming respect, and to prefer them before others, because they begot us, because they bred us up, because they bare for us ten thousand terrible things. And by these words He silences the shamelessness of Marcion; for if He were not born according to the flesh, nor had a mother, wherefore takes He such forethought for her alone?
 
I really appreciate all of your posts. I also appreciate being directed to the concept that Mary was linked to the first Eve who was the “mother of the living.”

I had found so many articles saying that the the symbolism of John as the whole Church dates back to antiquity, but none ever quoted an early document. Thanks again for your help, and for the Origen quote.
 
Classicist said:
The Fathers generally did not say that the Beloved Disciple represents, or is equal to, the Church and all Christians. They were more concerned with the example of virtue that Christ showed us, even at the moment of greatest agony. Chrysostom, for example:

newadvent.org/fathers/240185.htm

“Behold your son . . . behold your mother.”

And He, having committed His mother to John, said, “Behold your Son.” O the honor! With what honor did He honor the disciple! When He Himself was now departing, He committed her to the disciple to take care of. For since it was likely that, being His mother, she would grieve, and require protection, He with reason entrusted her to the beloved. To him He says, “Behold your mother.” This He said, knitting them together in charity; which the disciple understanding, took her to his own home. “But why made He no mention of any other woman, although another stood there?” To teach us to pay more than ordinary respect to our mothers. For as when parents oppose us on spiritual matters, we must not even own them, so when they do not hinder us, we ought to pay them all becoming respect, and to prefer them before others, because they begot us, because they bred us up, because they bare for us ten thousand terrible things. And by these words He silences the shamelessness of Marcion; for if He were not born according to the flesh, nor had a mother, wherefore takes He such forethought for her alone?
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We could interpret this as being that if the Holy Spirit induces us to see Mary as our Mother, we are likewise blessed and honored.

peace
steve
 
oceansenora said:
Hello. I have a question about John 19:26-27 regarding the universal motherhood of Mary.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son.“Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27).

I know that John was a symbol of the whole Church, and Jesus was giving His mother symbolically to all of us, not only to the Apostle John. But I am trying to show Early Church evidence of this to someone who does not believe this.

Could someone direct me to an early Christian document or quotes from Church Fathers demonstrating that this symbolism dates back to the first centuries? Thank you!
Click to expand...
Because others have already delved into Catholic sources, I decided to examine Orthodox ones. After all, the Orthodox Christians likewise believe in the universal motherhood of Mary and have recourse to the Early Church Fathers. With this in mind, I examined some of my Orthodox reference books and came across what at first appeared to be a real “gem.” However, an element of frustration quickly set in, as you’ll see in a moment.

An Orthodox catechism called The Living God states the following as a commentary on John 19:26-27:

…everything which concerns John is of special importance to us in examining a personal, loving relationship with the Lord. One of the Fathers of the Church says that to understand the Gospel of John we must lean on Jesus’ breast and from Him receive Mary as our mother.

…she is also the Mother of all believers, united in the body of Christ. Each one of us, as a part of this body, must try to become another John. And to become another John, we must accept Mary as mother and hear ourselves called by Jesus “sons” of Mary.
  • Editions du Cerf, Olga Dunlop, trans., The Living God: A Catechism for the Christian Faith, Vol. 1 (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2004), 194 (emphasis added).
The problem is that this book does not give us the actual name or source for this comment concerning “one of the Fathers of the Church.” Naturally, this is the “element of frustration” that I referred to earlier. The text has a footnote, but the footnote is only a brief elaboration on the theological history of the concept of Mary’s motherhood and certain Marian devotions, but does not provide us with any details about the ECF mentioned. For example, the footnote states:

Mary has assumed the role of Mother to all believers since the first days of the Church. We know that she shared the life of the apostles: “All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14). …On many occasions Mary acts as a loving mother to men. She often intervenes in the lives of Christians through miraculous signs. The Feast of the Protection of the most holy Theotokos especially commemorates her help.
  • Ibid, 194-195.
In light of all this, I don’t know how compelling this reference from The Living God would be to the person you’re debating with, seeing as we cannot provide the name, date and actual quotation of the ECF in question. Still, this at least shows that the interpretation of John 19:26-27 which you presented is not exclusive to Catholicism and that an Orthodox catechism testifies to its historicity.

Gratia vobis et pax multiplicetur,
Fr. Eric
Diocese of Savannah
 
From the Haydocks Catholic Bible Commentary - Ver. 26. Though there were other holy women standing by the cross, he takes notice of none but his mother, teaching us, by this, what we owe to our parents. For although it is our duty to disown them, when they place obstacles in our way to salvation; yet when they do not thus impede us, we owe every thing to them, and must prefer them to all. (S. Chrysostom, hom. lxxxiv. in Joan.) — We learn also here, what should be our respect and confidence in this Virgin Mother, so highly honoured by her divine Son.
 
Fr. Eric,
Thanks so much for sharing that Orthodox source. So curious now as to the writer and content of the referenced quote. Perhaps it will surface one day.
You are right. Noting that the Orthodox Christians share a belief or ours bolsters the truth of the belief’s truly Christian origin. Thank you for reminding me of that. I will be keeping the Orthodox in mind as other topics arise as well.
 
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