Was Mary an only child?

[godisgood77]

I can appreciate the curiosity. To answer with any certitude would be pure speculation.

With that said, I like to think that Anne and Joachim were a model family meaning that they were open to children and had as many as they could reasonable rear. So I hope that Mary had many brothers and sisters…and that the experience of living and growing with siblings helped to form her in the wonderful mother she was.

But as I said… the above is pure speculation…

 

[SAVINGRACE]

You must be new here.

Yes, it really could have been answered in two posts:

Post #1: Was Mary an only child?

Post #2: We don’t know.

No Joe, I’m not new on this thread.

If you look at post 1, I was the author.

I was happy with Post 2 but now all these people arguing otherwise has confused me further.

 

[Joe_5859]

No Joe, I’m not new on this thread.

If you look at post 1, I was the author.

I was happy with Post 2 but now all these people arguing otherwise has confused me further.

I meant new to CAF, not new to the thread. It’s not uncommon for us to carry on lengthy discussions about things like this.

The other posters are putting forth various opinions. That’s all fine. Catholics might choose to hold different opinions on this question in light of what they find most credible. As there is no irrefutable evidence nor any official statement from the Church, they are free to do so.

 

[ChrisRedfield47]

There are many things which we don’t know for certain but It is probable, based on Eusebius, that the Mary mentioned in as the sister of Mary the Mother of Jesus, is actually her Co-sisters in law (One’s husband’s brother’s wife; or more generally one’s spouse’s sister-in-law, the sister of one spouse in relation to the siblings of the other spouse). first allow me to quote Scripture:

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” John 19:25

There are 3 Mary’s above. The Blue one is the Lord’s Mother (Mary). The red one is called her sister and is a wife of Clopas. And Mary Magdelene in Green.

Hegessipus tells us:

“And after James the Just had suffered martyrdom, as had the Lord also and on the same account, again Symeon the son of Clopas, descended from the** Lord’s uncle**, is made bishop, his election being promoted by all as being a kinsman of the Lord.” Hegesippus. -(170 A.D.)

Eusebius tells us:

“After the martyrdom of James and the conquest of Jerusalem which immediately followed, it is said that those of the apostles and disciples of the Lord that were still living came together from all directions with those that were related to the Lord according to the flesh (for the majority of them also were still alive) to take counsel as to who was worthy to succeed James.They all with one consent pronounced Symeon, the son of Clopas, of whom the Gospel also makes mention; to be worthy of the episcopal throne of that parish. He was a cousin, as they say, of the Saviour. For Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph.”

(Church History 3:11:1-2 [A.D. 312]).
-Eusebius of Caesarea
source:
newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm

If Eusebius is accurate (and lets consider the fact that he is one of the best church historians), then let me show the following image of how these 2 Mary’s relate:



The above would be the relation suggested of the two Mary’s.

Its just one of many possibilities. Don’t take it as an established fact.

 

[ChrisRedfield47]

My above post is directed to those whom are seeking theories as to who is the so called “Mary Mother of Mary” mentioned in the Gospel. As some noted already, the possibility of these two Marys being literally sisters isn’t likely because of two sisters having the same name. The word in Greek is (ἀδελφὴ) “adelphē”. The word mentioned for Jesus’ brothers is (ἀδελφὸς) “adelphos”. In the Septuagint (Greek version of the Old testament Scriptures) this same word is used for those who were literal brothers, just as it was used for those who weren’t literal brothers. This argument gives room for these 2 Mary’s not being literal sisters.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

I meant new to CAF, not new to the thread. It’s not uncommon for us to carry on lengthy discussions about things like this.

The other posters are putting forth various opinions. That’s all fine. Catholics might choose to hold different opinions on this question in light of what they find most credible. As there is no irrefutable evidence nor any official statement from the Church, they are free to do so.