Mary, Did You Know

[benedictgal]

While wandering through the forums, I came across one in the AAA page regarding the hymn “Mary, Did You Know”. The Children’s Choir at my parish performed this piece and it’s lyrics were rather troubling. One line says “Mary, did you know, that the baby boy you delivered would deliver you?” Inasmuch as Christ redeemed Mary, God applied the saving merits of his Son’s Passion, Death and Resurrection at the moment of His Mother’s conception. This particular line of the song has gotten it wrong.

Here are the lyrics:

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would someday walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You’ve kissed the face of God.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am

Did the author assume that Mary didn’t know that her Son was the Son of God? It seems to just forget that the Archangel Gabriel had already told Mary just who her Son would be.

What say you guys?

 

[jimmy2010]

I love this song when it first came out and still very much in love it now. I just listen to it with a Catholic’s perspective, in that Jesus delivered all; past, present and future. Without Him, Heaven would not be opened to anyone on Earth.

Someone asked a similar question as well, see the answer at:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=163486

And a whole thread on this topic:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=122205

God bless!
JL

 

[pprimeau1976]

Did the author assume that Mary didn’t know that her Son was the Son of God? It seems to just forget that the Archangel Gabriel had already told Mary just who her Son would be.

What say you guys?

First, the author isn’t Catholic because it assumes that Mary is in a fallen state at the time she delivered Jesus:

**

Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
That the child that you’ve delivered
Would soon deliver you.

**

If my music director decided to do this I would recommend that he change these lyrics to the following

**

Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make us new?
That the child that you’ve delivered
Had once delivered you.

**

I think that if you change these lyrics, it would be more in line with Catholic theology. Mary did deliver the one who delivered her. She was delivered through her immaculate conception.

I think it’s okay to wonder how much Mary knew. If you look at the Gospel of Luke, it said that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) This to me indicates that at the time of Jesus’s birth she had not yet pondered all that God required of her or her Son.

 

[AngelRose81]

I do love the song because it is a beautiful song but everytime I hear it I think “Of Course She Knew!!!”

 

[lizaanne]

That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you.

This is heresy. Deliver her from what? She was born without sin - she never needed to be delivered from anything - EVER. It is a pretty little Protestant song - but that’s all it is. The teaching in it is incorrect.

~Liza

 

[Cristiano]

My take is that the line is not completely heretical but misleading. This is the same problem of thinking in terms of Kronos (our time) and Kairos (God’s time). God has not died yet in Kronos and so it is somehow understandable that the deliverance will happen at Jesus death. However, Mary’s deliverance has already happened because of Kairos. I think that this is a typical paradox that we see every time we think in terms of Kronos only.

 

[sneakers]

While wandering through the forums, I came across one in the AAA page regarding the hymn “Mary, Did You Know”. The Children’s Choir at my parish performed this piece and it’s lyrics were rather troubling. One line says “Mary, did you know, that the baby boy you delivered would deliver you?” Inasmuch as Christ redeemed Mary, God applied the saving merits of his Son’s Passion, Death and Resurrection at the moment of His Mother’s conception. This particular line of the song has gotten it wrong.

Here are the lyrics:

Did the author assume that Mary didn’t know that her Son was the Son of God? It seems to just forget that the Archangel Gabriel had already told Mary just who her Son would be.

What say you guys?

I have never cared for the song since the first time I heard it. It is misleading. Of course she knew. And Mary had to be in a completely pure and sinless state to carry the Saviour within her!

 

[agapewolf]

This is heresy. Deliver her from what? She was born without sin - she never needed to be delivered from anything - EVER. It is a pretty little Protestant song - but that’s all it is. The teaching in it is incorrect.

~Liza

Actually as it has been pointed out before…she did need deliverance, but it was done prior to her conception.

Remember, she says “I rejoice in God my savior”. Jesus was her savior, but because God is timeless, he can apply his redemption to her…just not in the same way as us.

You can read about this more in Karl Keating’s book “Catholicism and Fundamentalism”

 

[Jenlyn]

This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Jesus had to die on the cross to deliver her. God works out of time so He redeemed her before she was born BUT He did have to die on the cross. You see He had to die…then she would be delivered…but God works out of time…so she could be delivered before she was born. If He didn’t well then …let’s not think of that.

 

[Catholic90]

This is heresy. Deliver her from what? She was born without sin -** she never needed to be delivered from anything - EVER.** It is a pretty little Protestant song - but that’s all it is. The teaching in it is incorrect.

~Liza

As others have pointed out…yes, she did.

Many people are confused regarding Mary and put her on God’s level. She is not God. Many non-Catholics accuse the Catholic church of Mary worship because of miscontrued comments like this.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Jesus had to die on the cross to deliver her. God works out of time so He redeemed her before she was born BUT He did have to die on the cross. You see He had to die…then she would be delivered…but God works out of time…so she could be delivered before she was born. If He didn’t well then …let’s not think of that.

God can indeed work out of time but that’s not the case here unless we also apply this to Adam and Eve as well. They were created without sin but sinned later (I often wonder how long they lived without sin:shrug.

His death on the cross pays for our sins but Mary didn’t sin. His death didn’t do away with original sin which is what Mary was preserved from. She was saved by her Son but not by His suffering and death unless, again, somehow Jesus’ death also was what made Adam and Eve created without sin.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

The tune is pretty, but I’ve never cared for the lyrics. Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry, the composers, are not Catholic…So, they wouldn’t know, either.

 

[Morningkill]

The issue isn’t with the idea that Mary needed delivering at some time - which is clearly true (she needed delivering before her conception, which is what happened). Lizaanne and others are making the point that the lyrics, as written, state that Jesus Christ (who is now Incarnate in time during the period the song refers to) will soon deliver Mary.

That is not the case - Jesus has already delivered Mary. The song is heretical because, at the time that the song refers to, Mary did not need delivering. She had already been delivered.

I think that the change suggested above - to something like “has already delivered you” is good. It is a shame the line “has already delivered you before your conception in a process we refer to as the Immaculate Conception” is too long for the poetry.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

benedictgal

The hymn is not a list of literal questions presented to our Blessed Mother as if she didn’t know, but rather the expression of wonder over the mysterious events, presented by the author and those who sing it.

Its much the way one lover ask the other, “do you know I love you?”

I suppose it takes a level of poetic intellect to comprehend the meaning of the words, which not all people possess. However, many people do understand the hymn and love it. Why not just let them enjoy it and move on?

Jim

 

[Morningkill]

I suppose it takes a level of poetic intellect to comprehend the meaning of the words, which not all people possess.

Does it also take a level of intellect to understand those words as anything other than a snide attack on benedictgirl’s own intellect? It may very well do - alas, such is a sort of intellect I do not possess. I have considered your post carefully and think that it was uncharitabe.

In any case, the fact remains that the song does contain errors and can lead to inferences which are incorrect. While it is debatable whether or not these are merely inferences, or if they are implications, the fact remains that the song - as understood by most people - conveys untruths.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Morningkill

Does it also take a level of intellect to understand those words as anything other than a snide attack on benedictgirl’s own intellect? It may very well do - alas, such is a sort of intellect I do not possess. I have considered your post carefully and think that it was uncharitabe

.

Is calling the author of the hymn and those who sing the song heretical charitable?

In any case, the fact remains that the song does contain errors and can lead to inferences which are incorrect.

This is your opinion and not necessarily fact. I know a priest who sings this song and has recorded it on his album. He goes by, Father Pat.

While it is debatable whether or not these are merely inferences, or if they are implications, the fact remains that the song - as understood by most people - conveys untruths.

It doesn’t convey an untruth for me, but conveys the truth of the gospel.

Jim

 

[Morningkill]

Is calling the author of the hymn and those who sing the song heretical charitable?

If they are actually heretical, yes.

It is never charitable to not tell the truth - and the truth of the matter is that this song contains heretical teachings in its lyrics. Like the song “Amazing Grace”, for example.

“Heretical” is not an insult - it is a clearly defined term. It refers to teachings which are not in accord with those of a particular Church. Members of that Church who hold such opinions are heretics - while those who are not members are not, and merely hold hereticial views.

However, the fact that others may have acted in an uncharitable manner does not mean that you did not either. Two wrongs do not make a right.

This is your opinion and not necessarily fact. I know a priest who sings this song and has recorded it on his album. He goes by, Father Pat.

The fact that a priest supports something does not necesarially mean that it is not wrong - there are many priests who deny the Real Presence, for example. And many who give communion to pro-abortion politicians. I do not suggest that Father Pat is such a man - but the fact he has recorded this song does rather suggest a lack of awareness and discernment. As mentioned above, this song was written by Protestants who most likely deny the Marian dogmas. The song certainly appears to do so.

It doesn’t convey an untruth for me, but conveys the truth of the gospel.

Because you are choosing to view the line “will soon deliver you” in a manner which is not consistent with the usual meaning of the words in English. “Will soon” implies that the deliverance has not happened yet - which is a heresy. The deliverance of Mary (while being based on the sacrifice of Christ which occurs AFTER her conception) occurs before or at her conception (an event which, obviously, occurs before the conception of Christ).

This is the unfailing teaching of the Church. The lyrics of the song reflect a Marian heresy when interpreted in the normal manner of English. While individuals may put this down to artistic licence, the fact remains that the plain meaning of the words are heretical.

 

[ncjohn]

Is there nothing we won’t nitpick?

I think I’ll go back and offer my advice to Beethoven on some notes I would have done differently. And maybe some to some of the Popes on words I would change in some of their encyclicals that are clearly vague and misleading.

Sheesh…I think we have WAY too much time on our hands.

 

[benedictgal]

benedictgal

The hymn is not a list of literal questions presented to our Blessed Mother as if she didn’t know, but rather the expression of wonder over the mysterious events, presented by the author and those who sing it.

Its much the way one lover ask the other, “do you know I love you?”

I suppose it takes a level of poetic intellect to comprehend the meaning of the words, which not all people possess. However, many people do understand the hymn and love it. Why not just let them enjoy it and move on?

Jim

Jim, it’s not as cut and dry as you make it sound. This song has some serious doctrinal problems. It may have a pretty melody, but, it is written by Protestants who do not understand Marian dogma as defined by the Church. When children sing this hymn, it could very well lead to confusion.

 

[Joysong]

As mentioned above, this song was written by Protestants who most likely deny the Marian dogmas.

And of course, it is absolutely horrible to sing a song written by a Protestant (if in fact that is true?). :tsktsk:

Should we therefore get a petition to remove this carol from every hymnal in our Churches.

carols.org.uk/hark_the_herald_angels_sing.htm

“Hark the herald angels sing” Christmas Carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church, in 1739.
I agree with ncjohn, some have waaaay too much time on their hands.