Mary

Mary, in the Bible, the mother of Jesus, also called the Blessed Virgin. The chief events of her life related in the Gospels are her betrothal to Joseph; the annunciation of Jesus's birth; her visit to her cousin Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist; the birth of Jesus; and her witnessing his crucifixion. In the Roman Catholic Church Mary is accorded a special degree of veneration superior to that given to other saints, and is regarded as mediatrix of all graces and coredemptress. Roman Catholic doctrine holds she was born free from sin, remained always a virgin, and was assumed bodily into heaven.

See also: Bible; Jesus Christ; United Kingdom.