Did Jesus And Mary Get Sick?

[AndrewRaZ]

I asked the staff apologists this, but I think they were pretty busy with the Christmas rush a couple weeks ago, so I’m wondering if anyone else has the answer. Hopefully this is the correct place to ask this.

According to scripture and church teaching, Jesus, being the son of God, was without sin, and without the stain of original sin. Mary’s immaculate conception meant that she also was born without the stain of original sin. The church also teaches that sickness and suffering entered the world through original sin. Therefore, it stands likely that Jesus and Mary would be unaffected by even the effects of original sin, such as illness. However, they weren’t immune to suffering, even though that was brought about by other people’s free wills. The church also teaches that Mary didn’t die, she was assumed into heaven, because she was untouched by sin, and thus, untouched by death.

So, would Jesus and Mary be ‘immune’ to physical illness? Is this even a question we can answer, or is it one of the great mysteries?

 

[06convert]

They would have been protected from the suffering caused by original sin. It’s not believed that Mary even felt pain during child birth. I’ve even heard that Jesus wasn’t even born in the same way we know children to be born. We don’t know how for sure, but that’s what I’ve heard.

Did Mary ever suffer at all? It’s hard to say. We would think she suffered watching her son be scourged and crucified, but there is nothing to suggest that was the case.

But what about Jesus? He clearly suffered. We say in the creed, “he suffered died and was buried”. How can this be? This is the mystery. We have to assume that God allowed Him to feel pain and to suffer and to die. Even if the only reason was, because that is how it had to be.

 

[dmar198]

I asked the staff apologists this, but I think they were pretty busy with the Christmas rush a couple weeks ago, so I’m wondering if anyone else has the answer. Hopefully this is the correct place to ask this.

According to scripture and church teaching, Jesus, being the son of God, was without sin, and without the stain of original sin. Mary’s immaculate conception meant that she also was born without the stain of original sin. The church also teaches that sickness and suffering entered the world through original sin. Therefore, it stands likely that Jesus and Mary would be unaffected by even the effects of original sin, such as illness. However, they weren’t immune to suffering, even though that was brought about by other people’s free wills. The church also teaches that Mary didn’t die, she was assumed into heaven, because she was untouched by sin, and thus, untouched by death.

So, would Jesus and Mary be ‘immune’ to physical illness? Is this even a question we can answer, or is it one of the great mysteries?

Because we say in the liturgy that Jesus took on the weakness of human flesh, I think it is safe to say that He could have suffered illness, as well as His physical pain and death. Certainly He didn’t NEED to suffer these things, as the Sinless One; but He chose to, in order to redeem our weakness.

Mary certainly suffered with Him, so she apparently chose to associate herself with His sufferings. In that light, I see no problem saying that she could have become ill, or even have died before her Assumption.

Actually, the papal document which decreed the Assumption also states that Mary did die and, apparently, was raised up after death and glorified. “…the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained incorrupt… he gained a triumph out of death, her heavenly glorification after the example of her only begotten Son, Jesus Christ…” (Munificentissimus Deus #20)

 

[06convert]

Actually, the papal document which decreed the Assumption also states that Mary did die and, apparently, was raised up after death and glorified. “…the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained incorrupt… he gained a triumph out of death, her heavenly glorification after the example of her only begotten Son, Jesus Christ…” (Munificentissimus Deus #20)

Be careful though . The statement did mention that she died, but the only part that is infallable in that decree is:

the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.[4]

The statement was designed to leave open the possiblity that she did not die. It might be impossible to know for sure.

 

[spockrates]

Sacred Scripture does not say either way. Not sure about Sacred Tradition.

 

[NHInsider]

The statement was designed to leave open the possiblity that she did not die. It might be impossible to know for sure.

This was deliberately crafted to accomodate both the traditional Catholic belief and that of the Orthodox.

Both Mary and Jesus were fully human, and human flesh is subject to all kinds of suffering, not always as a direct result of individual sin but as a result of sin’s corruption of creation. It seems likely that they did in fact suffer physically as well as spiritually. (Well, we know Jesus suffered physically - when fasting in the desert and at the crucifixion. It seems like He probably also had teething pain and stubbed His toe and had headaches - and that the Blessed Mother did as well.

I do not think the tradition that Mary gave birth without labor pain, or the parallel one that the Infant Jesus never cried, are de fide?