What Did Mary Know?

[Pixle_Catholic]

When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the Annunciation, what was made known to her? Is it likely that she was told of all the sufferings she would undergo as the Mother of God? Or rather, is it more likely that she simply accepted the will of God without full knowledge of where it would lead?

 

[TheIttyBitty]

Opinion:
I don’t think she knew the extent, and the extent was realized by the Prophet Simeon. It appears he had a message meant for Mary, and his part would’ve been meaningless if she already was aware of the magnitude of suffering. I’m guessing The Rosary of The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady would’ve even been a bit different otherwise.

Also: I know nothing about this, but rather, it’s something I’ve understood. I have no evidence that this is an official stance, it is only opinion based on logical leaps and such. I’m perfectly happy standing by The Church in any knowledge She has on this that I do not.

 

[mary77]

i am of thought its the latter.

 

[Limoncello4021]

We don’t know more than in the Gospel, but since traditionally Mary was thought to have related Jesus’ conception and birth to Luke, one can imagine she told all there was to tell about what she was told at this crucial moment.

 

[Vico]

When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the Annunciation, what was made known to her? Is it likely that she was told of all the sufferings she would undergo as the Mother of God? Or rather, is it more likely that she simply accepted the will of God without full knowledge of where it would lead?

There was knowledge of the immediate and some events since the angel said “Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus” and she asked “How shall this be done, because I know not man?” Where she learned that “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee.” then she agreed: “be it done to me according to thy word”.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

At fourteen or so years old I don’t see how there would be any possibility that she would have understood what was going to happen outside of a very basic understanding.

I’m guessing that part of Mary’s “yes” was the simplicity of an acceptance, like that of a child’s complete trust.

 

[NevermoreLenore]

“be it done to me according to thy word”

This has to be one of the most powerful examples of agape love known to man. May I have even a tiny bit of this kind of faith…

 

[Benadam]

She knew more than any one. Then Jesus started knowing things . A virgin conceived. No one more certain of that than Mary. That opened her mind to the ressurection in a way no one else,s could. I think only Jesus knew more than Mary.

I think she knew a little bit about the Prophets and how they are treated by evil men.

 

[commenter]

At fourteen or so years old I don’t see how there would be any possibility that she would have understood what was going to happen outside of a very basic understanding.

I’m guessing that part of Mary’s “yes” was the simplicity of an acceptance, like that of a child’s complete trust.

We have no idea how old Mary was at the time of the Annunciation. In recent years scholars have lowered their estimate of the average age at engagement, but that doesn’t tell how old any particular girl was.

Even that estimate of the “average” is just an educated guess, could change.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Are you saying she celebrated her quinceañera after Jesus was potty trained? That goes against everything I know.

 

[John_Martin]

I’m guessing that part of Mary’s “yes” was the simplicity of an acceptance, like that of a child’s complete trust.

I am convinced she was quite a bit wiser than that, since she first rejected Gabriel’s statement, “How can this possibly be, since I know no man (and won’t be intimate with Joseph just to have this word of yours)”
The Gabriel said it was what God would do, not Mary, and that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her (rather than any man) and she would be pregnant.
As a Servant of the LORD, she acknowledged she understood and would participate “Let it be with me.”
And suddenly she was pregnant, without abandoning her self knowledge as a virgin and as the servant of the LORD. Yes or No | SoftVocation
She was also extremely fluent in the Scripture, as we saw when she echoed Samuel’s mother, Hannah’s Hymn (1 Samuel 2).

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I didn’t think this thread was about Mary’s knowledge of the birds and the bees. I thought it was about how much she would know about the life she was to endure.

 

[Lucy_1]

1Lord1Faith:

At fourteen or so years old I don’t see how there would be any possibility that she would have understood what was going to happen outside of a very basic understanding.

I’m guessing that part of Mary’s “yes” was the simplicity of an acceptance, like that of a child’s complete trust.

We have no idea how old Mary was at the time of the Annunciation. In recent years scholars have lowered their estimate of the average age at engagement, but that doesn’t tell how old any particular girl was.

Even that estimate of the “average” is just an educated guess, could change.

if I understand the OP’s question it seems to involve knowing the future, so age is irrelevant.

Are you saying she celebrated her quinceañera after Jesus was potty trained? That goes against everything I know.

Thank you for the laugh!

 

[John_Martin]

I didn’t think this thread was about Mary’s knowledge of the birds and the bees. I thought it was about how much she would know about the life she was to endure

Are you saying she celebrated her quinceañera after Jesus was potty trained? That goes against everything I know.

I believe what I wrote about Mary’s perceptiveness was much more to the point than your attempt at humor concerning coming of age birthday parties and toilet training - don’t try to patronize.

 

[Mark121359]

since she first rejected Gabriel’s statement

Nowhere does the Church teach this. She never rejected anything. She simply asked a question.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

She likely didn’t know very much at that point about what she would be going through. She just accepted God’s will, whatever it might be.

If she had known everything in advance then she wouldn’t have needed Simeon at the Presentation to tell her that a sword would pierce her heart and have to be pondering over that. She’d be all like, “yes, I know.”

 

[Dan_Defender]

IMO she was knowledgeable about the Messiah and the prophecies concerning him since she was educated at the Temple. Of course no perfect knowledge.

 

[JGD]

…since she first rejected Gabriel’s statement, "How can this possibly be, since I know no man …

Mary didn’t ask “How can this be …”. She asked “How will/shall this be …” The Greek word used is “be” in the future tense. And this is how earlier English bibles (Douay and KJV) translated it. She’s not questioning whether it can take place. She acknowledges it “shall be”; she’s just asking how it shall come about.
Here’s a link to the Greek/English interlinear. It gives the parsing as well as the translation.

She was also extremely fluent in the Scripture, as we saw when she echoed Samuel’s mother, Hannah’s Hymn (1 Samuel 2).

:+1:t2: Which probably means she may also have been familiar with the OT passages in Isaiah that foretell the savior being a suffering servant also. (Is. 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-7; 52:13 - 53:12) Also some of the psalms - especially Psalm 22.

One tradition is that Mary was taken to the temple at the age of 3 and remained there after her presentation. Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia article on it. Scroll to the two sections titled “The Presentation of Mary” and the next one titled “Her betrothal to Joseph”. If these accounts are true I think Mary probably was exposed to many conversations between scribes, Pharisees, and students discussing Scripture.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

Which probably means she may also have been familiar with the OT passages in Isaiah that foretell the savior being a suffering servant also. (Is. 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-7; 52:13 - 53:12) Also some of the psalms - especially Psalm 22.

Doesn’t necessarily mean she knew what they meant. Otherwise Simeon and Anna wouldn’t have shocked her.

 

[JGD]

The Scripture passage doesn’t say it “shocked” them; it says they “marvelled” or “wondered” or were “astonished” at what Simeon said. It applies to Joseph as well as Mary. The word is meant to encompass the interior reaction of Joseph also.

Luke 2:33 “And his father and mother were wondering at these things which were spoken concerning him.” (Douay)
“And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.” (RSV-CE)

More than anything, they may have been surprised that someone other than themselves would know who this ordinary looking 40 day old baby was.