Comments on: What did Mary know, and when did she know it?

By: Mary DeTurris Poust

Mary DeTurris Poust — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:14:09 +0000

Hi Mike,
Thank you for your comment. I was reading yet more rants about this song again this year, but I just didn’t have it in me to go over the same old arguments. I’m glad you left a comment because it made me go back and re-read my own post on the topic. I still love the song and I still don’t get how otherwise intelligent people can miss music’s power to bring us to a spiritual place even if the words don’t completely convey our faith or any faith at all. It’s a beautiful song, and it will always be one of my favorites — no matter the season.
Peace and blessings,
Mary

By: Mike Tant

Mike Tant — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 20:55:57 +0000

I was raised Catholic but left the church after college. Eventually landed in a conservative Presbyterian church and was there for 30 years. I returned to the Catholic Church six years and received a MA in Pastoral Theology last year from St. Meinrad’s Seminary. One of the writers of “Mary Did You Know?” has been a personal friend for 20+ years. I think I know his heart and i believe he would be seriously offended if exposed to Mark’s blog. One of the reasons I left the church originally was reflected in Mark’s blog post. Mary, I thank you for this article which so wonderfully expresses my thoughts and beliefs. And yes, I have some good and rewarding conversations with my Protestant friends and they ask many questions about why I returned to my roots. If I gave them Mark’s type of response, those conversations would cease.

By: Emily Rushmore

Emily Rushmore — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:49:08 +0000

In reply to Sam Schmitt. Agreed, Sam. Again, personal prayer or worship is different from communal worship of the Liturgy.

By: Emily Rushmore

Emily Rushmore — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:46:46 +0000

In reply to Brian Sullivan. Yes, this. This is exactly why I feel words are SO important. They come to us in our sorrow and joy. They actually teach us. We can't dismiss the importance of words. Singing a song for personal edification is one thing. Liturgical singing is another. We all have a lot of opinions on music, and therefor church music. However, in her wisdom, the church gives us guidelines to work within. They are very generous, actually, but theology is non negotiable.

By: Emily Rushmore

Emily Rushmore — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:43:13 +0000

In reply to Melani Roewe, CITM, M. Ed..

Even within our profession there are disagreements! I have a degree in Liturgical Music and just “retired” to stay home with my children after 7 years as Director of Music at our parish. I purposefully never played that song at our parish. For most of us who understand Marian theology it may not pose a problem to our faith, but there is already so much confusion about Mary.

It’s the same reason I wouldn’t play certain communion hymns. The fact that there are so many people that truly don’t even know that the Church teaches the Jesus present in the Eucharist means that I won’t take a chance to aid in someone’s continued misunderstanding or ignorance.

By: Margaret Mary Myers

Margaret Mary Myers — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 05:13:18 +0000

Thank you for this. I hope many Catholics already understand the theology, but I agree with you that reaching the heart is the most important thing.

By: Sam Schmitt

Sam Schmitt — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:26:23 +0000

The song may be a moving and help some people, but this is not enough for it to be chosen for the liturgy. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but you seem to hold that as long as people like a song or feel God’s presence while singing it, it’s OK to sing at mass.

You may not be aware that the Church has laid out guidelines about what can be sung at the liturgy. The lyrics in Catholic hymnals are carefully reviewed before they can be published.

Among other things, the U. S. bishops have said that any song sung at the liturgy must conform to Catholic teaching, and this is just common sense, since the liturgy is meant to express the faith of the Church. Having a song which muddles what we believe or calls it into question shouldn’t be sung.

This is not a judgment on the song as music or a condemnation of those who like the song, but just a common sense guideline. How can you worship God while at the same time singing something that (you know) doesn’t clearly express what he has revealed?

By: Margo

Margo — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 18:44:34 +0000

I just read the blog that you are reacting to. Personally, I’m having a hard time understanding why it isn’t theologically sound. It seems to me the same questions any mother might ask and dream about her child and the theological questions all seem to come not from the song but from putting the song into a social construct. Not knowing anything much about Protestant ideas on Mary, it seems bizarre to say that the song is in any way meant to question her importance. But I guess people bring their own knowledge and perceptions into their interpretations.

I agree whole heartedly though that we need to be more welcoming as a church. Gosh I hate hearing people bash anyone because it is an excuse for many people not to come back. It was an excuse for me for a long time until I decided that I didn’t care if people bashed me for my sins and I would come back anyway and come to terms with things in my own time. I couldn’t even begin to do that without coming back first.

By: Walter Ayres

Walter Ayres — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:17:11 +0000

The more I think about this song, the more I believe that it provides one of those teachable moments. Mr. Shea’s dissection of the song provides a sound theological appreciation of our understanding of Mary. I have never understood the song to mean that just because the question “Mary Did You Know?” is asked, that the answer is always assumed to be “No.” However, that fact that this is not hammered home does not take away from the power of the words or the music.

By: Brian Sullivan

Brian Sullivan — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:22:34 +0000

I like the song, but I am concerned about using songs that are weak theologically, especially in liturgy. Where do we say this much poor expression is OK, but not that much? Music has a way of staying with us that words alone do not. I imagine most parishioners can remember a song more than that day’s sermon.

Sorry if that’s a bit of a rabbit hole, Mary. I am trying to learn when to hold on to things and when to let go. (I even put up lights this year before Gaudete Sunday!) I write songs myself, so maybe I over analyze?