Mary, Did You Know?

As we prepare for the great Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, I'd like to address the song "Mary, Did You Know?" I don't think I can recall another year where I have seen so much discussion about this song in Catholic circles. The debate has come up on numerous occasions in my neck of the woods and in social media forums. From what I have seen, the debate is dominated by two sides who are arguing two different points. Allow me to get on a soap box and, "go off" for a minute...

NB: I am writing this from my perspective as a Catholic musician who works primarily in a Roman Catholic liturgical framework.

The Two Sides

Side 1 - "Yes, she knew"

Side 2 - "No, she is not omniscient"

Mary would have known most of the things that are asked of her in the song, because she was a practicing Jew who knew the prophetic texts of Isaiah and others. She knew what she gave assent to when she told the angel Gabriel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary was not granted "omniscience," and therefore she would not have known all of the events to come in the life of her son. This is pretty clearly evidenced by her concern at the angel's coming to her in the first place, (Luke 1:29) and by her question, "How can this be..." (Luke 1:34), and even later on when Jesus is lost in the temple: "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." (Luke 2:48)

Breaking it Down

Side 1 argues that she knew some things, and side 2 argues that she is not omniscient-- two different things. I argue that both are true, and they do not contradict one another. Of course Mary was not omniscient-- but that just means that she didn't know literally everything. She didn't know every single bleedin' thing that was going to happen to her, Jesus, and Joseph, or anyone else for that matter unto eternity. She is not omniscient, AND she definitely knew the premise of what is being asked in this song.

Were Mary, a faithful Jew, not aware of the prophetic texts; how could she have proclaimed that, "behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed." (Luke 1: 48) Seems like she's prophesying something unknown in the future that she couldn't know as a lowly human being like you and I... Unless she knew the gravity of what it meant to have the Son of God dwelling in her womb. She was aware of the prophesies that foretold the coming of the Messiah. She knows the promises that have been made: "He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Luke 1:54-55) In addition, the angel tells her point blank:

"Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

See further in the next chapter of Luke, when the shepherds come to Bethlehem and recount what the angel said to them: "behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord." (Luke 2: 10-11)

Did she know he was the Savior? Yes! We even know that she "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." (Luke 2: 19) There is no question that Mary knew Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

The 'Real' Issue

The lyrics for "Mary, Did You Know?" were written in 1984 by Mark Lowry. Lowry recounts that he wanted to formulate the text as if it was a 'sit-down' with Mary, to see if she understood the gravity of bearing Jesus in her womb. Though she is named in the title, and the song is addressed to her, this song is truly an artistic reflection on Jesus. "Did you know?" is simply the textual device to provide references to Jesus' life as written down in scripture. The point of this artistic reflection is to create a meditation on the life of Jesus, and all that he did as the Savior. This is of course all fine and well, but here is my real issue with this song: All the questions simply ask the same single question: "Mary, did you know that the child in your womb is the Messiah?"

We know the answer based on 'scripture alone' (hehe) is an emphatic "YES. She knew." It is a bizarre exercise then, to question Our Lady, even in the innocence of song, if she knew who she bore in her womb. There is even a slight air of arrogance on our part to ask such questions, as if our historical accounting for of Jesus' life should give us more knowledge of Jesus than of his own mother. She knows her son more than any other human being. It is a silly and short-sighted thing to ponder if Mary understood the gravity of the situation, and that is really what the questions within the song are asking.

The issue is not: did she know all the things or none of the things, or some of the things? The premise of this song implies that Mary did not know that she was carrying the Messiah. That is an issue. As such, the text is not compatible with scripture, or the Catholic teaching on Mary, the Mother of God.

For my own two cents as a Catholic musician, "Mary, Did You Know?" has no place in Catholic worship. Even within a devotional context, I don't think this a song I would consider for a Catholic congregation. I don't really have an issue with the music itself-- it's a nice little melody with a devotional character that fits well in the modern Christian quasi-folk style. The music is not the issue for me. It is quite simply the origin of the text and the idea that permeates the lyrics: 'Mary, you have no idea how big a deal this is going to be.'

Catholic hymnody and literature is riddled with beautiful texts about the blessed virgin Mary. There are dozens of examples of good hymns, chants, antiphons from scripture, and poetry that would much better suit a Catholic congregation when pondering Mary's involvement in God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. There are better things out there, and it absolutely matters what we pray with. ('lex orandi, lex credendi')

I'm happy to take your questions, rotten tomatoes, or both at this time.

-McChoir