MARY

Direct biblical statement

Luke 2:35

A sword through thy soul

35 And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

Douay–Rheims · Challoner revision · Luke 2:35

Why this matters

Simeon addresses Mary with a prophecy of sorrow while speaking of Jesus as a sign of contradiction. Catholic tradition connects her suffering with her presence at the Cross; the passage does not describe her as a separate redeemer.

Text & interpretation sources

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English Scripture: Douay–Rheims, Challoner revision. Source edition.

Lourdes sculpture by TheFatTas, CC BY 4.0; optimized and adapted with animated sections and Scripture inscriptions. The image is a render of this modified sculpture.

A Catholic reading of Scripture. The placement of inscriptions is symbolic; direct statements, typology and theological context are distinguished.