Apocrypha of the Virgin Mary
| The Coronation of the Virgin | |
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The Apocrypha of the Virgin Mary, also called the Secret Gospel of the Virgin Mary, is falsely attributed to Mary, mother of Jesus.
The narration is intended to be based on an apocryphal discovered in Jerusalem by the pilgrim nun Etheria in the fourth century. At the end of her earthly life, Mary would be telling John the Evangelist about her experience with Jesus.[1]
The apocryphal, like other Infancy gospels, for example the Infancy Gospel of James, states that Saint Joachim and Saint Anne are Mary's parents. In addition,it advocates the perpetual virginity of Mary.[2]
Content[edit]
The apocryphal is divided into 14 chapters, the first (the preface) and the last (final epilogue):
-Preface-Greeting
Cp. 1st. - I was fifteen.
Cp. 2nd. - The next day.
Cp. 3rd. - José, a surprised fiance.
Cp. 4th. - The exaltation of the slave.
Cp. 5th. - Back home.
Cp. 6th. - The tortuous paths.
Cp. 7th. - The verb became flesh.
Cp. 8th. - Raquel's scream.
Cp. 9th. - Educate God.
Cp. 10th. - Thirty years of glory.
Cp. 11th. - Love became public.
Cp. 12th. - From the rear.
Cp. 13th. - Standing by the cross.
Cp. 14th. - My children's time.
-Final epilogue
Chapters 1 to 6 talk about the life of Mary before the birth of Christ, as the announcement of her birth. Chapters 7 to 10 talk about Jesus' childhood, from his birth. And, chapters 11 to 14 about the ministry of Jesus until the resurrection of Christ.
Authorship[edit]
The author of the book is the Spanish priest Santiago Martín, who, based on the Gospels, tries to describe how the Virgin Mary felt in the different phases of her mission as Mother of Jesus.
The text had been referred to by early church priests and taken for granted. It was found by Saint Jerome and translated by the Spanish nun Egeria (when they were in Bethlehem, between 387 and 420). It is possible that this doubt of Egeria had infected the monks of Santa Maria de Arezzo. And that the lack of the two chapters in the text that was kept in his library was not accidental, but that some zealous defender of orthodoxy came to think that the memories of Virgin Mary could diminish the divinity of Christ, because in them the human side of his Son is shown. Could anyone be afraid that, in the harshest time of Inquisition, the inclusion of an apocryphal in that library could arouse suspicions of collusion with the hated heresies. It is possible that some severe inquisitor ordered the separation and burning of the two chapters that were missing from the Italian copy of the Itinerarium. In any case, in Spain the full text is now preserved and the best that can be done is to read and interpret what has been hidden for centuries.[3]
The Mary's parents[edit]
Saint Anne, whose name in Hebrew means grace, belonged to the family of priest Aaron and her husband, Saint Joachim, belonged to the royal family of king David. Very little is known about Saint Ana. It is known that this was the mother of Virgin Mary , wife of Saint Joachim and Jesus's grandmother. It is also known that, after the birth of the Virgin Mary, she would have had one or two more daughters, because God had released her after Joaquim had stayed 40 days in the desert. The names of these daughters are: Mary Salome and Mary of Cleopas. According to the apocrypha, Mary, Anne and Joachim went to synagogues on Saturdays:[4]
I was 15 years old once, a few months ago I became a woman. I remember, despite having spent so much time and so many things, the tenderness of my mother, Ana, and the soft firmness of my father, Joaquim. That day was Saturday, my father had gone to the synagogue to hear, as usual, the reading of a text from the Torah and the explanation given by the rabbi. My mother and I also went, and we stayed well together, respecting the custom that separated men from women ... (Apocrypha of Virgin Mary)
In addition, Mary could read and write, and had access to the Torah:
That day, we were unable to attend and we were waiting for Joaquim to return, so that he could tell us what had happened. The sun was already down, and the Sabbath was over, when my father had given us the text that had been read in the synagogue, it belonged to the prophet Isaiah, one of my favorites. In a more solemn voice than singing, Joaquim said: How soft are the feet on the hills of the one who announces the good news, who makes peace heard, who announces good, who makes salvation heard, who says to Zion: O your God reigns! This is the voice of your watchmen! They raise their voices together, they rejoice, because eye to eye they will see, when the Lord returns to Zion. Cry out, sing together, rejoice, deserts of Jerusalem! Because the Lord comforted his people, he redeemed Jerusalem. (Isaiah 52: 7-9)
Intertextuality[edit]
Even though it is not a historical work, we realize that there are references to the canonical gospels in it:
With Luke's Gospel:[edit]
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.
45 And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.”
49 And He said unto them, “How is it that ye sought Me? Knew ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”
50 And they understood not the saying which He spoke unto them.
51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But His mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.[5]
According to Luke's Gospel, Mary and the doctors do not understand Jesus' words, however, in the apocryphal, Mary grew in understanding of the mystery of God that involved Jesus and herself and Mary is praised by the doctors of the temple for their son's eloquence and wisdom, as also seen in Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.
With John's Gospel:[edit]
2 And on the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
2 and both Jesus and His disciples were called to the marriage.
3 And when they lacked wine, the mother of Jesus said unto Him, “They have no wine.”
4 Jesus said unto her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.”
5 His mother said unto the servants, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.”
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, holding twenty to thirty gallons apiece.
7 Jesus said unto them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And He said unto them, “Draw some out now, and bear it unto the governor of the feast.” And they took it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, not knowing from whence it had come (but the servants who drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom
10 and said unto him, “Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have drunk well, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
11 This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brethren and His disciples; and they continued there a few days.[6]
"Who can resist a mother's request? ”, Jesus replied, according to the Secret Gospel of the Virgin Mary, in the wedding episode, before performing his first miracle. And after the miracle Mary says to Jesus: “What did you expect? Did you believe that with miracles and your speeches people would be converted and their hearts would be transformed? Dear son of mine, you have to accept things as they are, and in the same way you have to accept men (…) You have to cheer yourself up and move on (…). ”
References[edit]
- ↑ Cite web | title = The secret gospel of the Virgin Mary | url = https: //www.paulus.com.br/loja/o-evangelho-secreto-da-virgem-maria_p_459.html | access-date = 2020-09- 01 | website = Paulus Editora (in Portuguese)
- ↑ {{https://www.spanishpublishers.net/El-evangelio-secreto-de-la-Virgen-Mar%25C3%25ADa-en&ved=2ahUKEwj58LeBgMHrAhUNGrkGHfILCNYQFjAKegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw1qsB88vwnRc8tBeEIwk3_9}}
- ↑ Cite web | title = The secret gospel of the Virgin Mary | url = https: //www.paulus.com.br/loja/o-evangelho-secreto-da-virgem-maria_p_459.html | access-date = 2020-09- 01 | website = Paulus Editora (in Portuguese)
- ↑ {{https://www.spanishpublishers.net/El-evangelio-secreto-de-la-Virgen-Mar%25C3%25ADa-en&ved=2ahUKEwj58LeBgMHrAhUNGrkGHfILCNYQFjAKegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw1qsB88vwnRc8tBeEIwk3_9
- ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=KJ21
- ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%202&version=KJ21
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