Did the Virgin Mother Mary die?

Answer 1

A Biblical Perspective

The Roman Catholic teaching that Mary remained a virgin even after the birth of Christ is not just erroneous, in that scripture nowhere indicates this, it is in fact in stark contrast to that which scripture does tell us.

In Matthew 1:24-25 we are told "When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus."

This alone is enough that the Catholic position is false, but the evidence doesn't stop there.

In Matthew 13:55-56 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?"

Here the Catholic will often argue that the term "brothers" and the term "sisters" has either been mistranslated, or that within the Jewish/Hebrew culture these terms also were applied to close cousins, not just siblings. But is this strictly true?

The Greek word translated "brothers" is transliterated "adelphos", whilst this word does refer to one's literal brother from the same mother and/or father, it can also refer figuratively to those of the same people group, or countryman. However the use of adelphos is revealed with the Greek word translated "sisters" which is transliterated "adelphē" as this word is only used as ones literal sister being from the same mother and/or father.

The Greek word for "cousin", transliterated "suggenēs", is found in Luke 1:36 talking about Mary's cousin Elizabeth, and refers to a blood relative or in a wider sense a fellow countryman. If this was what was meant it Matthew 13, this is surely what would have been used.

Paul also wrote in his letter to the Galatians:

"Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother." (Galatians 1:18,19)

So as a quick answer: No. Jesus had both brothers and sisters. But regardless of that Matthew 1:26 makes it very clear that Mary did not remain a virgin.

Catholic ViewYes, the Virgin Mary died a virgin. The brothers mentioned in scripture refer to other relatives, such as cousins. This was a common reference made in the culture and time of Mary and is still held in some cultures even today.

Answer 2

There are two views, both acceptable by the Catholic Church:

Mary did not die but was assumed, body and soul, into heaven.

Mary died and, within a short period (probably 3 days) her body was assumed into heaven to be reunited with her soul.

Tradition says that St. Thomas heard that Mary was near death he traveled to be with her once more but arrived three days late. When they took Thomas to the tomb, it was empty.

Some sources believe that she died in Jerusalem and others say it happened in Ephesus in modern Turkey. Both cities claim to have her tomb. Both may be correct in a way. Mary is said to have resided in Ephesus for a time and then returned to Jerusalem. She could have had a tomb constructed in Ephesus before she decided to return to Jerusalem. She would have probably left this world about the middle of the first century AD.