The Journeys of Mary: Part Ii

By Mary Ann Donovan

At age four, Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, made her first journey. Mary traveled with her family to Jerusalem for her Presentation to the Temple. Some of the other journeys taken during her lifetime included trips to Jutta, Bethlehem, Matarea, and Heliopolis, as well as many other trips to Jerusalem.
When her son Jesus began his public ministry, Mary moved from Nazareth to Capharnaum. With her friends, the Holy Women, she followed Jesus as he traveled around Galilee and throughout the Holy Land. Ultimately, Mary followed Jesus to the foot of the cross. To protect Mary from the persecutions that followed the death and Resurrection of her son, St. John the Evangelist took Mary with him to Ephesus, Turkey to live. Mary journeyed to Jerusalem and back to Ephesus before ending her earthly life in Ephesus.
The Journeys of Mary is the story of Marys life and the life, Passion, and death of her son. In Part II of the trilogy, Mary arrives in Ephesus and establishes her home there. With the help of St. John and Mary Magdalene who comes to visit, Mary creates a Way of the Cross as a reminder of the suffering her son endured. As she walks the path, Mary recalls the capture, trials, and judgment of Jesus, as well as the details of his Crucifixion. Other events that occur as part of her life in Ephesus trigger memories of her earlier life in Nazareth and Capharnaum.
The Journeys of Mary is the story of both the interior journey Mary takes as the mother of Jesus and the exterior journeys she takes as she lives out her life fulfilling the will of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477244777

Mary Ann Donovan

no ATA

Book preview

In Part I . . .

Three years after the Crucifixion, St. Stephen was martyred and the Christian communities in and around Jerusalem were dispersed. To protect the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist brought her from Jerusalem to a small Christian community in the mountains outside the city of Ephesus in Turkey. He had a house built for her there.

In Part I, Mary bids farewell to her friends and family. As she travels to Ephesus, she recalls some of the many journeys she has taken in her life. She remembers her first journey for her own Presentation to the Temple in Jerusalem at age four. After the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of the Messiah, Mary journeyed to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country around Hebron. In the ninth month of her pregnancy, Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem where the Nativity of Jesus took place in the Crib Cave. After the birth of Jesus and before returning to Nazareth, the Holy Family traveled to Jerusalem for the Presentation of Jesus to the Temple. Later, when the life of Jesus was threatened by Herod, Joseph fled with Mary and Jesus from Nazareth to Egypt. After years in Egypt, the Holy Family returned to Nazareth where they lived until Jesus began his public ministry. Mary reflects on all these journeys as she, her maidservant Leah, and St. John the Evangelist journey from Jerusalem to Ephesus.

After weeks on the road, Mary, Leah, and St. John arrive at Mary’s new home in Ephesus. As Part I concludes, St. John has announced, We are here.

At Ephesus

The House

Mary had been walking with her eyes lowered, partly because she wanted to avoid any rocks or roots in the path, but partly because she was filled with anxiety. Mary, her maidservant Leah, and St. John the Evangelist were coming to the end of their long journey. Mary was pondering what her new home would be like. So engrossed was she in her thoughts that she had almost bumped into John when he stopped and turned to speak to her.

At John’s words, We are here, Mary slowly raised her eyes and looked across the clearing at the building standing in the filtered sunlight. Stunned, her jaw dropped, and instinctively she brought her hands to her chest in an attempt to slow the wild beating of her heart. For a long moment, she remained speechless.

Oh John, it looks just like my home in Nazareth. It is . . . How did you do it? It is perfect. Surprise and delight shone on her face.

John saw how pleased she was, and he beamed with joy. He said, I’m relieved that you’re happy with it. I sent workmen ahead a year ago. The local people all helped. I simply told them how it had to be. You know how familiar I was with your home in Nazareth because Peter and I, as well as several of the other Apostles, visited it many times after the Crucifixion. We often shared the Lord’s meal in the house when we were traveling to Palestine.

Yes, I remember that. After the death of Joseph, Jesus and I left Nazareth and moved to Capharnaum. I always loved my home in Nazareth. I have such pleasant memories of the time we spent there as a family.

We wanted you to feel as much at home here as you felt in the house that Anne, your mother, fitted up for you and Joseph. We wanted it as much like Nazareth as possible.

The small group moved nearer to the house, and Mary examined the small stone house more carefully. Set in a grove of trees, the house was rectangular in shape with side wings that made it resemble a small cross. Large stones, some a deep brown color and others the color of sand, had been cemented together with cream-colored mortar. The thick stone walls would keep out the heat of the sun during the day. However, at nightfall, all the heat collected in the stones would slowly be released warming the house and dispersing the chill of the evening mountain air. Mary stared at the stones hewn from local rocks taken from the summit of the mountain nearby. The rocks had been carefully carved into blocks and mortared together to create a solid façade. She knew how much work it must have been to prepare these stones for her home. Mary was filled with deep gratitude for the generosity of people she had yet to meet. The small windows in each outside wall created openings that would let in light and make the interior more cheerful. A large tree adjacent to the side of the house brought shade to the courtyard near the front of the house.

Just as in Nazareth, there is water nearby, John said.

It is a beautiful home, John.

It is the only stone home in the area. Although the outside looks like Nazareth, the interior is a little different.

How so? Mary was curious.

As you know, the home in Nazareth had three rooms. One was yours, one belonged to Jesus, and one belonged to Joseph, which was also his workshop. This house has one large room rather than three and has a wing for your private quarters. You will have a quiet area for prayer, but it won’t be quite the same as your oratory in the house in Nazareth. Come and see.

Mary walked up the three small steps that led to the doorway, crossed the threshold, and entered the house. As her eyes adjusted to the cool, deep shade of the interior, her mind moved back to Nazareth. She could almost smell the cut wood as Joseph worked on his projects in his large outer room. From the time they returned from Egypt, Jesus worked at Joseph’s side, helping him lift boards and learning the carpenter’s craft as he watched Joseph work. Jesus had his own room. Except for sleep, however, he was barely there. He was popular with the boys his age, and when he was not in the workshop helping Joseph, he was with friends. Mary was content in her space, sitting with her basket next to her, doing her knitting and embroidery. Many times Joseph and Jesus joined her in the evening to stand together in prayer.

She was abruptly brought back to the present moment by John’s voice telling her about the house. From the doorway, a large room spread out before her. About three-quarters of the way into the room there was a fireplace, centrally located between the two side walls. The fireplace divided the larger front area from the smaller back area. A tube above the fire pit channeled the smoke from the fire out through the flat roof above. The sides of the fireplace looked like steps.

Wicker screens are in place in this larger area to separate space into sleeping areas for guests, should you have visitors who stay overnight, John explained. He knew the pious women of Ephesus would come to visit with Mary or to help her when the need arose. The paths leading to her house could be treacherous at night; therefore, the women might require an overnight stay. He knew, also, that many in Ephesus would rely on Mary’s wisdom and would seek her advice. In addition, many more would come to hear her story and the story of her son. As a result of the work of the Apostles and disciples, the message of Jesus was spreading throughout the known world. Many of these new followers had not heard the words of Jesus directly. They would want to talk to Mary and have the message of Jesus explained more fully. This home could easily accommodate any guests Mary might have. For now, Leah would use one of the screened areas for her sleeping quarters.

The smaller back area would be Mary’s oratory. A tiny cubicle had been made into the curved back wall. Here, Mary could place the small crucifix she and John had made while in Bethania. It now lay carefully wrapped in one of the small bundles strapped to the donkey waiting outside. As she looked at the curved back wall, Mary could visualize the altar that would be built into it.

Walking through the larger front area, she saw to her right the opening that led to a small area off the main room. It, too, had curved walls. Above the bed, there was a cubicle as well. This entire small wing could be closed off from the main area by a wicker screen. It would form a private bedroom space for Mary. The wing to her left on the opposite side of the great room would become a storage area to hold the few belongings Mary had. It would also be a place where food could be kept for the winter months. The left wing led to the secluded patio area where Mary could sit and visit privately with the women, Apostles, and disciples who would come to visit her.

Mary turned to John. You have thought of everything that could possibly give me shelter and comfort. It’s a wonderful house. Then, she turned toward Leah who stood quietly looking on from a short distance behind Mary and John.

Leah, please come; we will unpack the donkeys. I am anxious to set up our new home.

Unpacking

While John tended to the animals, Leah helped Mary to carry the bundles into the house. Please bring these to the storage area, Mary said as they walked over the threshold and into the coolness of the interior of the house. Leah followed Mary into the side wing and began to unpack the clothing Mary had brought on the journey.

Leah took the blue robe from its wrappings and handed it to Mary. Mary shook the robe out and refolded it.

Such a shade of blue! Leah exclaimed.

Mary smiled and looked at the robe with fondness.

Yes, it was a gift from Joseph. He brought it back for me from a trip he took to Jerusalem. He had the embroidery added to it. Mary laughed. I have embroidered all my life; I even won prizes for my work. Many times my handiwork was a source of income for us; yet, Joseph wanted this robe to be special and wanted me to have something I did not work on myself! He was truly such a kind and thoughtful man.

The blue was the color of the evening sky, and the silver threads of embroidery on the edge looked like the tiny stars that appear in the heavens as the sky darkens. Or perhaps, Leah thought, it looked the way moonlight must look when it sparkles on the sea.

This robe is a wedding garment, a garment to be worn for important ceremonies. I doubt that I will ever have a need for it again. Mary paused; she looked at Leah with a smile. However, one never knows about these things. Life is full of surprises. Mary took the mantle of the same color and decoration. After shaking it out, she carefully folded it and placed it with the robe.

Leah began to open more bundles. The two women worked quickly as a team. Leah unpacked the bundle, handed it to Mary who refolded it, and then directed Leah as to where she wanted to place her veils, her girdles, and her long, white robe.

As Leah began to open the last parcel, Mary extended her hands to take it from her. I’ll unpack that one myself. Leah knew it contained the belongings of her son, the most precious being the woven tunic he always wore. She handed the parcel to her with reverence. Mary took out the small crucifix that she and John had made as a reminder of the Passion and death of her son. A small piece of cloth that had been used to clean the most precious wounds of her son after he was taken down from the cross was also in the parcel.

Feeling her eyes fill with tears, she turned away from Leah and spoke softly, Leah, I suddenly feel very tired from the long journey and all the unpacking. Could you, perhaps, start a small fire and heat some water for tea?

Of course. After Leah left the room, Mary sat down on the small bench in the room and held the cross and cloth to her breast. As she closed her eyes, she saw the large cross of rough hewn wood, looming before her, holding the crucified body of her beloved son. He had surrendered his spirit. The next thing that she recalled was being in a small house. Try as she might she could