(NASB), Again, however, the Greek word used for sister in John, adelphe, is based on adelphos, a catch-all term for “kinsmen.” It could be translated as kinsman, but as we can see, translators have consistently rendered the word in this verse "sister.’, [quote=thistle]Slightly digressing but the part you highlight implies that the sister of Mary is Mary the wife of Clopas when in fact many theologians disagree over whether this verse is talking about 3 women or 4 women. What Inspired Queen 'Bloody' Mary's Gruesome Nickname. Their mothers could have been from the tribe of Judah or Levi. After Darnley’s assassination, Mary wed James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who may have been responsible for Darnley’s murder. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. It tells us nothing about her exact relation within the extended family. Another verse from the NT would be an additional help. Thus, Mary and Elizabeth may have been first cousins, or they may have been fourth cousins. I think it was in St Catherine Emmerich’s writings, where she says that Mary had several siblings. Since very few people have two daughters and call them both Mary, it is virtually certain that the word “sister” in this verse does not mean sibling. We all know her as Mary’s cousin, right? [quote=Philomena]Thanks, Fidelis…do you know about the Hebrew or Aramaic words used to describe Elizabeth? The child (Henry VIII’s niece) was Queen of Scotland nearly from birth, since her father died when she was only six days old. While this appears to be a clear cut answer, there is more than meets the eye as to how Mary and Elizabeth were related. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, : The views and opinions expressed in these forums do not necessarily reflect those of Catholic Answers. Parr had married Thomas Seymour, brother of the Lord Protector of England, less than a year after Henry VIII’s death. "Brethren of the Lord" In David Starkey’s book titled, “Elizabeth” he says that after the execution of Anne Boleyn that Mary made her peace with Boleyn’s ghost and prayed that ‘that woman’ might be forgiven. However Mary and Elizabeth were related, tribal heritage among the descendants of Jacob was passed down through fathers, not … No apprehension can be quicker than hers, no memory more retentive.”. Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots were not sisters. Slightly digressing but the part you highlight implies that the sister of Mary is Mary the wife of Clopas when in fact many theologians disagree over whether this verse is talking about 3 women or 4 women. Of course that’s private revelation versus Gospel. Is ‘sister’ actually used there and not ‘kinsmen’? Thanks! It doesn’t make it gospel, but it’s fun to think about…a sister who never sinned! Personally, in the face of alternate interpretations, I always prefer to stand with the tradition of the early Church, especially the one’s closet to the time of the Apostles. Things got so bad that the year of her mother’s death, Elizabeth’s governess pleaded for money, complaining the child “hath neither gown, nor kirtle, nor petticoat.”, Elizabeth’s childhood was not totally devoid of comfort. A literal translation of the original Greek of John 19:25 states. Two of Henry VII’s eight children were Henry VIII Tudor and Margaret Tudor. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images. I love, love, LOVE that man. The word used for Jesus’ “brothers” in, for example in Matthew 12:46-47, is adelphos. [/quote], Luke’s Gospel, which is the only one to mention Elizabeth, was written in Greek. It appears that many were convincing her that her sister was foe – so many that there were rumors that Mary would name her Catholic cousin, Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox her heir. While the pretty, well-spoken Mary flourished, secure in her majesty, the stresses of royal life were almost crushing her cousin Elizabeth. "Brethren of the Lord" [/quote], [quote=RCCDefender]I don’t think Mary had any siblings… For more info on this, see the Catholic Answers tract: Mary, Queen of Scots was convicted of treason on October 25, 1586. Hey, guys, didn’t you see the article about Pope Benedict speaking earlier this week, when he said that living a virtuous life was NOT BORING? If my memory serves it was an older sister. I believe you are correct. Wouldn’t it have been a bear, growing up with a sister who never sinned? It doesn’t make it gospel, but it’s fun to think about…a sister who never sinned! I’d like to know because it can help defend Mary’s perpetual virginity. Their blood relationship stems from the fact that Elizabeth’s ancestor Levi was the brother of Mary… “But by the cross of Jesus were the Mother of Him AND the sister of the Mother of Him, Mary the wife of Cleopas AND Mary the Magdalene.”. Why Queen Elizabeth I signed a death warrant to execute the rival royal cousin she'd never met. ", The lonely child received a superior education. All we know for sure is that they were kin. It’s not the same word. In yesterday’s Gospel,(Luke chapter 1) I noticed that Elizabeth is referred to as Mary’s ‘relative’. Henry VIII had cast aside his universally respected Catholic wife, Catherine of Aragon, and their daughter, Mary, for Anne. In 1549, the recently widowed Seymour was arrested for treasonous behavior; many believed he intended to marry Elizabeth and claim the throne in her name. As the “second person” in the line of succession, she expected Elizabeth to name her heir to the British throne. Since Mary was already an anointed Queen, she walked before any of the French princesses, even the King’s own daughters. Was the same word used when the Bible refers to Jesus’ brothers and sisters? In 1554, the Protestant Wyatt’s Rebellion, which focused on securing the throne for Elizabeth, finally gave Mary the onus to unleash her pent-up rage against her relative. The precise positioning of the ANDs in the Greek makes it clear that there were three women called Mary here, not four, and that Mary the wife of Cleophas is called the Virgin Mary’s “sister”. Mary’s second marriage was to her first cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, a match that enraged Elizabeth I, who had not been asked permission for the marriage. Long story short: Mary and Elizabeth were first cousins once removed through King Henry VII of England. I mean, in the original Hebrew or Greek, was the word ‘sister’ used to refer to Elizabeth and Mary’s relationship? [/quote]. “She is endued with a masculine power of application. The coddled royal was neither prepared for the coarse Scots, nor the coldness of her cousin Elizabeth. Their blood relationship stems from the fact that Elizabeth’s ancestor Levi was the brother of Mary’s ancestor Judah.