Mary (mother of James the Less)

Along with Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas, Mary the mother of James is known as one of the Three Marys, depicted here by Mikołaj Haberschrack.

Mary is identified in the synoptic gospels as one of the women who went to Jesus' tomb after he was buried, and, along with Joanna and Salome, is recognized as one of the three "Myrrhbearers" by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, being commemorated in the Calendar of Saints on August 3.^[1]

Luke 24:10 and Mark 16:1 refer to "Mary the mother of James" as one of the women who went to tomb, while Matthew 27:56 says that "Mary the mother of James and Joseph" was watching the crucifixion from a distance, while Mark 15:40 calls her "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses" (NKJV). Although James the younger is often identified with James, son of Alphaeus, the New Advent Encyclopedia identifies him with both James, son of Alphaeus and James the Just.^[2]

This Mary is also occasionally identified with Mary of Clopas, referred to in John 19:25,^[3] or with Salome, wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John.

References

1. ^ "Biographies (Aug-Sept. 15)". Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=3779. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 
2. ^ "St. James the Less". New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08280a.htm. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 
3. ^ S. S. Smalley ("Mary," New Bible Dictionary, p. 793) says that this identification is "very probable".

• Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship. Lutheran Book of Worship. Augsburg Fortress Press, 1978.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Evangelical Lutheran Worship - Final Draft. Augsburg Fortress Press, 2006. Available at [1]
• Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Lutheran Worship. Concordia Publishing House, 1982.
• Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Lutheran Service Book. Concordia Publishing House, 2006.
• The Woman's Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1995.