“Mary did you know?” song sweet but the theology sticky

By Fr Robert Christo, Vicar for Communications

There’s no doubt that ‘Mary Did You Know?’ is my most melodious favorite song, especially during Advent and Christmas. Penned by Mark Lowry in 1984 and recorded in over 400 versions worldwide, the song has become a modern Christmas classic. Its poignant lyrics and haunting melody invite listeners to reflect on the mysteries of the Incarnation and Mary’s intimate participation in the story of salvation. The rhythm pulls at my heart, and the lyrics draw us into the mystery of Mary’s role in salvation history. But as we Trinis love to say, “not everything sweet is good for your teeth!” and one particular line in this beloved song—“The child you’ve delivered would soon deliver you”—has sparked a theological ‘bacchanal’.

Why Contention?

For us Catholics, Mary’s unique place in God’s plan is central to our faith. She was not just another person saved by Jesus; she was preserved from sin through what we call prevenient grace. Let me break big term down in true Caribbean style:

Think of prevenient grace as the ultimate“storm-prep. Imagine you have a neighbour who is always ready before the hurricane—house boarded up, crix stocked up, sandbags secure. While the rest of us are bailing water and scrambling, they don’t even get a drop inside! That’s Mary. She didn’t need to be“rescued from the effects of original sin like the rest of us because God, knowing she would be the Mother of Jesus, prepared her ahead of time. She was sinless from the very moment of her conception.

Bishop Robert Barron explains it this way: Mary is like Eve before the fall. She was a pure vessel, chosen to bring the Redeemer into the world. This is what we celebrate in the Immaculate Conception—Mary’s preservation from sin so that she could be the perfect Mother for the sinless Christ.

A Misinterpreted Line

Here’s where the line “The child you’ve delivered would soon deliver you” becomes sticky… It implies that Mary needed to be delivered from sin, just like the rest of us. But that’s not the Catholic teaching. Jesus is Mary’s Saviour, but He (who is without sin) saved her (the most sacred vessel to bring about the sinless Redemptor) in a unique way—by preventing her from falling into sin in the first place.

To avoid this theological confusion, a better phrasing might be:

“The child you delivered would be the Savior.”

This slight tweak maintains the poetic beauty of the song while ensuring that Mary’s Immaculate Conception is respected.

Should We Sing It?

Now here’s the million-dollar question: Should Catholics sing this song, especially in a liturgical setting? Theologically, the line could mislead people into thinking Mary needed to be saved like the rest of us. So, in Mass or other formal worship settings, it might be better to stick to hymns that clearly express Catholic teaching, like ‘Ave Maria’ or ‘Immaculate Mary’.

But in other contexts—say, a Christmas concert or carolling—we can sing it with the understanding of what we mean: that Jesus is the Saviour of all, including Mary, but in a way unique to her role as the sinless Mother of God.

A Caribbean Reflection

I like to find clarity through storytelling. Imagine a fisherman preparing his boat. While the others are patching holes after a storm, his is ready because he did the work before the winds came. That’s Mary. God preserved her from the storm of sin so she could carry Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

So yes, Mary did know! And as we celebrate this Advent season, let us reflect on her unique role in salvation history and her perfect ‘yes’ to God.

May Mary, full of grace, guide us this Advent to embrace her Son with open hearts!