What was the name of the Virgin Mary's sister?

Answer 1

We are told in the Gospel that Jesus' mother Mary had a "sister" called Mary. It seems unlikely that Anne and Joachim had two daughters named Mary. This other Mary in turn had a husband named Cleophas (Jn 19:25). Cleophas is probably the brother of Joseph (Jesus' adopted father). It follows that Cleophas' wife Mary is the Virgin Mary's sister in law, which explains why they can have the same name and are called sisters.

Catholic tradition says that Mary was probably an only child but does not deny that she may have had siblings. However, we have no documentation to verify this.

Answer 2

The Virgin Mary's "sister" was Mary, the wife of Cleopas, who was the brother of St. Joseph. Thus the two Marys are more specifically sisters-in-law. This makes sense because the term "sister" in Aramaic (the language spoken in the region)was commonly used to refer to any close female relative, and the fact that for two blood sisters to have the same first name would be unheard of.

Answer 3

Mary I had no full siblings; that is, siblings who shared both her mother and her father. Her mother, Catherine of Aragon, had no other children who survived past a few years old. However, her father Henry VIII divorced Catherine and married again. His second wife, Anne Boleyn, had a daughter called Elizabeth, who was Mary's half sister. Elizabeth would later become Queen Elizabeth I, after Mary's death.

Answer 4

As far as is known, Mary was an only child. The Bible speaks of a sister of Mary, also named Mary, who stood with the Blessed Virgin at the cross along with Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Apostle. It is highly unlikely that Joachim and Anne would have named two daughters Mary. This 'sister' of Mary is thought to have been Mary of Cleophas who is thought to have been a brother of Saint Joseph. That would make her the sister in law of the Blessed Virgin. In the Jewish culture, any female member of the extended family was called a sister and any male member of the extended family was called a brother. They had no words to describe in laws or cousins. All were brethren.

Answer 5

In scripture she is also called Mary. However, it seems unlikely that Joachim and Anne would name two chidren by the same name. This other Mary was the wife of Cleopas who is beleived to have been the brother of Saint Joseph so she would have been the Blessed Virgin Mary's sistrer-in-law.

Answer 6

queen Mary the first sister was queen Elizabeth but both sisters had different mothers

Answer 7

No, Mary was an only child. The 'sister' mentioned in scripture was her sister-in-law, Mary of Cleopas. Cleophas is thought to have been the brother of Saint Joseph.