St Mary, after whom our church is named, is the Mother of Jesus Christ. She has always been venerated and respected by Christians because of her unique role in bringing the Son of God into this world.
The New Testament in the Bible tells of her receiving the news from a divine messenger that she would bear God’s Son. The Gospel of St Luke records her response: “Let it be to me according to your word.” The Gospel says that, shortly after, Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth, who in her old age became the mother of John the Baptist. Mary and Joseph, to whom she was betrothed, were obliged to travel from Nazareth to her Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral town, and it was there that the child Jesus was born. St Matthew’s Gospel also tells the story of the birth of Jesus, but in a slightly different way.
Mary is mentioned again when looking for Jesus when, aged 12, he had stayed behind in Jerusalem on a pilgrimage visit. Mary found Jesus conversing with the religious teachers in the Jerusalem Temple, where all were amazed at his understanding.
The Gospel of John says that Mary was present when Jesus performed his first miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding at Cana. Mary stood at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified on Calvary. St John’s Gospel says that, before he died, Jesus entrusted his Mother to his beloved disciple, St John, and Mary found her place among the young Christian community after Jesus’ resurrection.
There are more Church of England churches dedicated to St Mary than any other saint. After Jesus himself, Mary has received more devotion by Christians than any other human being. Many churches, like ours, have a Lady Chapel, a small semi-separate part of the church marking the importance of Mary, called “Our Lady” by many worshippers. Because of her response of willing obdeience to God, Mary has been held up as a model disciple, and a person of prayer and faith. Many Christians have embraced her in their own praying, and been encouraged by her example.
One of the most popular hymns in Christian worship is Mary’s song, called the Magnificat (its Latin name). This hymn forms part of the service of Evensong, and is found in St Luke’s Gospel, and represents Mary’s joyful response to her realisation that she will be the Mother of God’s Son.
“My soul magnifies the Lord: my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden…”
There are special days of celebration for St Mary in the Church’s year, when special prayers are said, or celebratory services held:
| Date | Event | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 25 March | The Annunciation | Celebrating Mary being told she would bear Jesus |
| 15 August | The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Often celebrated as the day Mary’s life on earth ended, and she entered the glory of heaven |
| 8 September | The Birth of Mary | |
| 8 December | The Conception of Mary | Mary’s father and mother, by tradition, were Joachim and Anna |
At St Mary’s Moseley we particularly observe 25 March and 8 September.