was mother mary really a prostitute?

Question

my uncle said that she was but the church just doesn't want to tell everyone that because it makes her not seem as pure and it might make others think that being a prostitute is ok in god's eyes. was she a virgin or a prostitute? and how do you know?

Answer 1

The mother of Jesus was not a prostitute. Scripture is not shy about telling embarrasing details about the people it desribes, and yet there is nothing but glowing praise of Mary in scripture. On the evidence, it's not even plausible that the historical mother of God incarnate was anything other than a humble, virtuous, and God-fearing woman.

Scripture itself says that the Blessed Mother was a virgin. The earliest writings of the church fathers all say that she continued her entire life as a virgin. (Joseph was much older than Mary, so while it's plausible that they had children, it's not likely.) Some modern scholars have made a case that she and Joseph later had other children based on a couple of verses in the Bible, but their argument depends on a particular translation of some ambigous Greek words. (for an analysis of the argument, see http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap080300.htm ). Even the great Protestant reformers Luther and Calvin affirmed the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Perhaps the strongest evidence of her virtue came from the angel Gabriel, who said "Hail Mary, full of grace!" It is only through the grace of God that any of us avoid sin, and the more grace we receive, the more we are enabled to do what is right. To be "full of grace," then, really means to be completely protected from sin. (A wise but tough priest once told me in confession, "God wants to give you his grace, but you must pray more to receive it." (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17))

Some marginal modern writers have suggested that the "whore of Babylon" (See Revelation 17:4-18) refers to Mary, but they are summarily dismissed by everyone else. It's a long way from the virgin of Bethlehem to the whore of Babylon! To the contrary, the reference is clearly a literary device that contrasts the nurturers of evil with the mother of Jesus.

By the way, there's no evidence (in Scripture or otherwise) that the historical Mary Magdalene was a prostitute either. The first suggestion of such a thing came from a misunderstanding of a sermon by Pope Gregory in 591. His sermon didn't actually say she was a prostitute (he called her a "peccatrix," which means "sinner" in Latin), but many people took his words to mean that. Of course, (with the possible exceptions of Mary and Enoch [see Genesis 5:24]), "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). It is not surprising, therefore, that Pope Gregory held her up as a model for the rest of us sinners.

Answer 2

There were many women in the Bible with the name Mary. The one who is usally labeled as a prostitute is not Mary, the mother of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, but Mary of Magdala aka Mary Magdalene.

There is no evidence that Mary Magdalene was a true prostitute in the sense as we know that particular profession today. She was probably labeled as such because the PTB of the day disapproved of the way that Jesus treated men and women as equals. There are some theologians who believe that even some of the apostles (Peter in particular) felt threatened or jealous that a woman was more of a confidante of Christ than some of the men.

The idea of a woman being a leader was a threat to the status quo to those people back then. Hence the reason the Gospel of Mary never made it in the official Canon and all the misconceptions about her being a woman of "ill repute" went unchallenged...and the reason why some people even today get their hackles raised when movies like "Last Temptation Of Christ" or "DaVinci Code" are made.

Answer 3

Your uncle is EXTREMELY confused. First, Jesus' mother Mary was no prostitute. The Bible claims that she was indeed an 'alma', or young virgin.

He's probably thinking of Mary Magdelene, who was healed by Jesus of a demonic possession. The confusion comes in because in the verses following, the bible reports ANOTHER woman who WAS a prostitute. And through the centuries, these TWO women got lumped together. In fact neither Mary was a prostitute.

Answer 4

In the Bible... Mother Mary was a virgin. The Catholic Church at one time labeled Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, but they rescinded that doctrine a number of years ago.

Neither of the Mary's were prostitutes.

Here is a link that explains the story, you can show it to your Uncle.

http://www.marymagdalene.net/

Answer 5

No. The Blessed Mother was a virgin. (When Archangel Gabriel told her she would have a child, she answered, how can that be? I haven't known (had sex with) a man!)

Neither was Mary Magdalene, and Pope John Paul II declared it. The confusion seems to arise out of the proximity of Mary Magdalene's appearance in the Bible (Jesus cast 7 demons out of her) and the story of the penitent prostitute who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

Answer 6

your unlce is one of those guys who thinks low of women, isn't he? Anyway, Marry was a young girl living in a jewish family, which at that time meant constant study of Torah, helping out at home, being all goody, goody girl. She was innosent, clean and she was a virgin. That's why God have chosen her to give birth to the Messiah. When Marry was pregnant with the Messiah, Joseph got jelous and almost dumped her. But an agel from the Lord came to him and told him that it was true, that Marry will give birth to Jesus. If it wasn't so, Joseph would have never stayed with her, and they would have never traveled to Bethlehem, and king Hirod would have never tried to kill the baby Jesus. Jesus would have never grow up to be a smart boy that at 12 he amazed even the wisest rabbies. He would have never grew up into his thirties to give people a message of love, forgiveness and the kingdom of God. He would have never fulfilled the prophesies and woud have never die on the cross. All of that did happen however, because Marry indeed carried a Holy infant, a Child of God! Tell your uncle to be of a more spiritual person, or he may miss out on the biggest truth...

Answer 7

Mary was not a prostitute. Do you think God would allow his son to be raised by a prostitute? Mary MAGDALENE was a prostitute who changed her life around and followed Jesus. May Magdalene is an entirely different person then Mary the mother. of Jesus.

Answer 8

NO! God tells us that she was a virgin. Tell your uncle that he is also in God's will because he was just used by Him to get you to seek the truth that you may know that Jesus is the living God and saviour.

Answer 9

Adriana are you telling us of your mum? then we are really not interested. What i dont know is what connection there is with your uncle and the church, ... but if you are speaking about someone else then i think that you are rally off the mark

Answer 10

I am not aware of any document anywhere that suggests that Mary, mother of Jesus was a prostitute. I would ask your uncle what he bases that claim on.